Unit 6 Reflection

In Unit 6, we learned about the pros and cons of biotechnology, and its influence upon the past and present world. We learned about Recombinant DNA, Gel Electrophoresis, and many more techniques in biotechnology. One such thing was how influential it was in normal life. It reminds me of the many exciting things we produced in the labs during this unit. With each technique, it opens up a new variety of possiblities that we can do. From making glowing bacteria, to separating DNA from candy, we can do a lot of things with each technique. Some labs that demonstrate this are included in the following links.

During my time in this unit, I learned quite a lot about each technique, and its principles, as well as its history and effects in the present. Each one has its own flaws and bonuses that benefit people, but the only thing that troubles me is the number of techniques and what it benefits, like medical or food production. The procedures and what it does are easy for me, but remembering the many other minor and major techniques are way beyond me.

I hope others would learn from my mistakes that I may have caused in the past, and build from it, rather than leaving it in a mess like I do. Study well and don't get stuck on one thing, try help from others or search up a reference. Good luck, and always have fun in Biology.

Candy Electrophoresis Lab
Recombinant D




http://rack.2.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzA2LzEzLzU0L2RuYS40NjE1MC5qcGcKcAl0aHVtYgk5NTB4NTM0IwplCWpwZw/3b6190d2/275/dna.jpg

Candy Electrophoresis Lab

Focus Question Answers:

1.  Yes, there was one color, which was the candy color of orange, that was faint but had split into two different colors.

2. Betanin

3.  They attract the dog's attention and makes the dog eat the treat, thinking it's good

5. The size of the DNA, and how easily it separates

6. The negative and positive flow of electricity through the gel

7. The pores of the gel as the liquid flows through

8. I would expect the 600, 1000, and 2000 to be somewhere near the beginning and the middle, while the 5000 to be somewhere near the end of the gel

Recombinant Lab Report

In the lab we did, we recreated the process of producing recombinant DNA. When we first began the lab, we had cut out several colored pieces of paper. One color was the pieces that would create the plasmid, another color would be those that create the Human DNA and insulin gene, and the final color would represent the restriction enzymes. I had decided to tape together one piece that had the restriction site, and another that was "resistant" to kanamycin over the two other pieces that were resistant to tetracycline and amplicillin, which I discarded away. I taped together all the pieces that create Human DNA and the insulin gene, and sorted out the restriction enzymes, enzymes that attach to the DNA and make cuts on it. After testing all of the restriction enzymes on the model, there was only one that could make only one cut on the plasmid and two on the human DNA. I then cut out the insulin gene in the the human DNA along the restriction enzyme's path, and the same thing for the plasmid. We attach the parts together and we are done with the lab

Which antibiotics could you use in your petri dishes to see if bacteria have taken in your plasmid? Why? Which antibiotics would you not use? Why?

You could use any, as long as there is so cells that have it inside. If there are none inside the bacteria, you would kill the thing. For example, if I used Kanamycin, and the bacteria wasn't resistant, then when I kill all other parts that aren't resistant to Kanamycin, so would the bacteria.

What are restriction enzymes and how do they work? Which one did you use and why?

Restriction enzymes are enzymes that attach to the DNA and make cuts on it to split the DNA. I used the "ECO R1" restriction enzyme since it was the only one that correctly split the DNA and the plasmid.
What would happen if you used an enzyme that cut the plasmid in two places?

The plasmid would be missing a large chunk of code, which could be vital for the organism to survive. When I attach on the insulin gene from the Human DNA, then the recombinant DNA would be very small
How do you think this process is important in our everyday life?

This process could produce new parts, and create specific immunities to the bodies, and so much more.
How else could this process be used (be creative!) or search online to find current technologies using recombinant DNA.

There are many ways that this technology is being used today, such as medical testing or even genetically modified pets, like the GloFish.

http://rack.2.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzA2LzEzLzU0L2RuYS40NjE1MC5qcGcKcAl0aHVtYgk5NTB4NTM0IwplCWpwZw/3b6190d2/275/dna.jpg

New Years Goals for 2nd Semester

For my second semester, I decided that the two goals below would be the ones that I would aim for during the semester

1. I will work hard to keep my grades good, while having enough time to help elsewhere.
By working hard, I could finish my work early and study well, while also allowing time for extracurricular activities like swimming, and also helping my family, having fun, and enough sleep for tomorrow.
I will do my work as best as possible, study hard, and overall work hard, but also have time for other things

2. I will try to keep my family together, even though some of us dislike each other.
Most of my family are at each others necks, with my stubborn little brother and mother arguing with each other constantly, my older brother going to college, and my dad and I trying to stay out of the fight, but also try to help keep the family together for now. I will help my family as much as possible, but also try not to fuel the fire by angering others.

Protein Synthesis Lab Conclusion

1. When we modeled the process of protein synthesis, we had learned that there were a few steps to make a protein. The first step was to make a copy of the original DNA, and use that as a template. The next part was to use that template to make a copy that would be translated into RNA. Third Step would to leave the Nucleus, enter the cytoplasm, and bind to a ribosome. The fourth step is to read the first three bases or codons, and build amino acids that correspond to that codon. The last step is to bound up the amino acids, finish translating, and build the protein with the amino acids.

2. The effects of changing bases are different depending on what they changed. For example, substitution only ended up doing silent mutations in the lab, while the others drastically changed the code. The ones that did the most damage were the ones that added or removed the bases, while the ones that substitute barely did any damage. The damage does more if the mutation were to occur earlier on the code, rather than near the end.

3. I chose the mutation that added to the code, and placed it near the start of the code. This mutation does large damage, since like removing, changes the code. Also, the placement is crucial, since placing it near the start of the code maximizes the damage done.

4. Mutations could cause malfunctions in the body, or in critical points where the body needs to live. It could either kill the person, cripple the person badly, or just deal no harm at all. An example of a beneficial mutation is the Somatic mutation, where the genes make copies of itself, till at one point, the body would have mostly the mutated genes. These genes are harmless near the beginning, but could cause major damage if left unchecked.

Unit 4 Reflection

After the long days of working on Unit 4, I have gotten an in-depth review of genetics and have learned quite a lot. From the beginnings of how Mendel had first discovered genetics, this study had not been attempted for a long time, until recently, when Scientists were able to prove Mendel was right. What I managed to excel at was understanding the process and the punnett square, but I never really got the concept of the complicated parts, such as terms or segregation, and the Mendel's Laws of segregation and others. Even though I had already reviewed these parts before in 8th Grade, I had learned some more interesting things than what I was taught before. I plan to think back on what I learned back in 8th grade and compare it to what I have learned now.

Unit 5 Reflection

This unit we began on talks about "walking the dogma" and is related to Chapter 12 in our textbook. It was about the DNA and its role in living organisms, which is to build the certain parts in certain places. The things to note where the steps which replicate DNA (Transcription) , and how they make proteins from reading off RNA (Translation) . The cells make copies of DNA by unzipping it using RNA polymerase, and then using nearby RNA/nucleotides, they make messenger RNA, which are temporary copies of the original DNA. When making proteins, the mRNA or messenger RNA, goes into the cytoplasm and binds itself to a ribosome. The ribosome reads the RNA in a 3-letter code, or codons, and has transfer RNA or tRNA, bring Amino Acids for each specific codon. I was excelling in reading the RNA and being able to figure out which amino acid goes where, with the help of a certain sheet of paper, though i still lack in my ability to remember certain parts of the things go where in a picture, and often forget, misspell them, or just put it in the wrong place.

I have learned much about the structure, roles and uses of DNA after reading the Chapter and watching all the vodcasts about the unit. After using the VARK questionaire, I had realized I was a aural learner, and that I learned more from talking, hearing and recalling things. I used this when I read the codes when translating them, to remember which part I was on, and quickly find the amino acid responsible for that certain codon.

Questions I have about this unit would be seeing an actual picture of DNA unraveled and in plain sight, which we could do if we had went further into the DNA lab. I want to know how long it really is, and the amazing sight of the long ladder which builds proteins.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/70/DNA_replication_split.svg/2000px-DNA_replication_split.svg.png