Green fluorescent protein (GFP) from bioluminescent jellyfish has been incorporated into a plasmid and supplied to us by our industry partner, Southern Biological. Students will work in teams, using these recombinant plasmids (pGLO) to transform E. coli bacteria under different conditions, creating their very own transgenic bacteria that fluorescent under UV light.
Program objectives:
- Establish an understanding of the key characteristics of the pGlo plasmid and the role enzymes have in bacterial transformations.
- Develop key science skills related to PCR and gel electrophoresis.
- Explore gene expression and the role ampR, araC and GFP have in the synthesis of the green fluorescent protein.
Curriculum links:
BiologyIndustry links:
Southern Biological has provided input into program creation. Ongoing volunteer support of Peter Ball our resident scientist is highly valued.Biotechnology and genetic engineering
Pharmaceuticals and medicine
Environmental science
Genomics and DNA sequencing