Unit 6 Reflection

Unit 6 was about biotechnology. We first learned about the history of biotechnology from its roots 6000 years ago. We learned about many of the applications like gene therapy and classical breeding. In the next vodcast, we learned about more modern technologies in biotech such as polymerase chain reaction ( pcr), gel electrophoresis, and sequencing, and there applications. In the last vodcast, we learned about bioethics, a field of ethics that involves biotechnologies. We learned about ethics in general and some of the main issues that involve bioethics. Some examples include cloning and genetically enhancing humans. My strength was the process of gel electrophoresis because I learned about it in the 7th grade. My weakest topic was probably the PCR because I hadn't previously known about it and it wasn't given as much attention as gel electrophoresis. The two labs that we completed for this unit were the candy gel electrophoresis lab and the pGlo lab. In the first lab, we extracted the dyes from candy and tried to determine what there basic chemical compounds were based on running it through a gel and comparing it to known samples. The pGlo lab was to show the process of giving one trait to another organism, in this case, giving the E. coli bacteria the ability to be immune to ampicillin and glow under UV light. I want to learn more about PCR because it wasn't my strongest topic. I would also want to learn more about DNA sequencing because I want to see whether you could completely predict the traits of a person based on their DNA. I have a few unresolved questions about bioethics because there is no clear answer. Most of these questions are relevant because they are in a gray area, and it is hard to determine which side is correct. I still need to work on my procrastination because it is still causing problems. I hope to do better at accomplishing my new year goals next unit.

pGlo Lab

1. The first colony had about 100 colonies. It glowed orange under Uv light. The second plate had about 120 colones, but it didn't glow under Uv light. The third one didn't have any colonies.
2. The transformed bacteria now glow under a Uv light, and are resistant to ampicillin (the antibody.)
3. I think we had very few bacteria put onto the agar plates because there are a lot that could die in the process. You only need 1 to survive for there to be colonies.
4. Arabinose is able to make the E. coli survive the ampicillin and grow colonies in its presence.
5. GFF is being used in science for multiple research reasons. One use is to test whether a plasmid has successfully been inserted into another bacteria. Another use is to use it as a marker when doing tests in bacteria. One example of its use is when they inserted it into a parasite and infected another organism. They would easily be able to tell if the host was infected if it glows because of the gene.
6. One application of genetic engineering is using the E. Coli gene to cure malaria. They made the E. coli get a gene that makes it harmless and cures malaria for a much cheaper cost. This is a very important technology is third world countries stricken with malaria as the treatments that used to cost $50 are now $5.