Molecular Biology in Real Time: Tricks and Tips for Turbo-Charging and Student Proofing Standard Protocols
Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2012, Volume 33
Michael J. Keller
Abstract
At the University of Maryland we have made a concerted effort to develop and incorporate "cutting-edge" scientific experiences for our undergraduates at all levels. Students in our introductory molecular and cellular biology course for science majors are given the opportunity to work with technologies that are central to modern research labs. During two three-week lab modules students get hands-on experience with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of proteins (PAGE), bacterial transformation, plasmid mini-preps, PCR, and DNA electrophoresis. Traditional protocols for some of these procedures take to much time to accomplish in a single lab period, use hazardous chemicals, and/or are to complicated/delicate for novices to complete successfully. We will discuss ways to make PCR, DNA minipreps, and gel electrophoresis faster, simpler, and safer for students. Using these methods it is possible to perform colony PCR, complete a plasmid miniprep, and look at the results on an agarose gel all within a single 3 hour lab period, without ethidium bromide or UV light.
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