By: Becka Kangas

  Students click HERE to skip this sectionHERE  Teachers click the arrow to continue through the teacher information section. Teachers page

  9 th grade biology students  Should know mitosis and meiosis.  Should have had an introduction to Mendelian and Non-Mendelian genetics material.  Should have a basic understanding of the use of lab equipment and accurate lab technique. Target Audience

  Learning will occur in the classroom and lab.  Student should have access to a laboratory setting for the basics of PCR.  Computers will be necessary for the online portion of the lab, also accessing the powerpoint. Learning Environment

  Given the proper lab equipment students should be able to explain and carry out the basic steps of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with 75% accuracy. Objective PCR

  Given an evaluation sheet students should be able to identify genetically modified organisms with 90% accuracy and explain the purpose and process of genetic modification with 80% accuracy. Objective GMOs

  Shapes like these: on the following pages have been hyperlinked. When you go to make a selection of a topic or choose an answer click on the dark green shape unless told otherwise. Basic Information

 Home Polymerase Chain Reactions and Genetically Modified Organisms PCR Information Directions Quiz GMOS Information Directions Quiz

  Genetically modified organisms are important in daily life and they are the product of genetic engineer’s hard work! Knowing the basics about this genetic modification can demystify the rumors and help lead to better designed products. Genetically Modified Organisms

 Read over the information carefully, watch the video within the powerpoint, and proceed to the quiz at the end. Try your best to get all the quiz questions right! GMO Orientation

  Gene: A distinct sequence of nucleotides forming Part of a chromosome.  Transgenic: describes an organism that has had Genes from another organism inserted into its genome.  GMO stands for genetically modified organism.  This happens when a gene is moved from one organism to another to improve or change it.  This also happens when an organism is selectively bred.  Selective Breeding: breeding specific plants or animals for particular genetic traits. Information

  Genetic modification adds natural insect and herbicide resistance in plants so they don’t have to be sprayed with pesticides that hurt the environment.  Genetic modification is exact (only the desired gene is inserted and changed) and immediate.  Selective breeding may take generations and all genetic material (even unwanted genes) are transferred. GMOS background information

  Watch the embedded video below: GMOs information

 All of these are types of GMOs Think about the types of GMOs around you! All of the pictures on this slide are GMOs; can you think of any more?

 GMO Question 1 Which of these is NOT a GMO?

 Correct! Chairs aren’t living things so they contain no genetic material to be modified!

 Incorrect! Remember that in order for an organism to be modified it needs to have living cells with DNA to be replicated. Please review the material or try again!

 GMO Question 2 Is food genetically modified? True False

 True! Correct! Food is selectively breed and subject to transgenic (movement of one gene from one organism to another organism) action to add natural herbicide and insect resistance so pesticides don’t have to be used.

 Try Again! Remember what a genetically modified organism is! Please try again or review the information.

 GMO Question 3 GMO stands for ___ ______ ____ and is defined as ____? Genetically Modified Organism; an organism that has had its genes specifically selected and bred or transgenically altered. Genetically Mutated Organism; an organism with severe mutations. Genetically Modified Organism; an organism far along the evolutionary pathway.

 Right! GMO is a genetically modified organism whose had its genes specifically selected and bred or transgenically altered

 Sorry! Think about what a GMO really is and how the name describes its purpose. Try again or review the material!

 GMO Question 4 Is genetically modified food safe? Yes No

 You got it! Genetically modified food is engineered to be safe. If you haven’t completed the section on PCR click HERE to go through the section. If you have completed both the PCR and GMOs section, then you’re done! Congratulations!HERE

 Not quite! Try again please. Otherwise review the material by clicking the home button and reading through the GMO section again.

 Polymerase Chain Reactions This is one of the most biologically significant procedures! It’s used to amplify tiny bits of very important DNA sequences that can be used in medicine or forensics. So many fields use this procedure directly or indirectly so it helps to know something about it!

  Read through the information carefully.  Watch the embedded video.  Do the linked virtual lab.  Be sure to proceed to the quiz at the end and answer all the questions. PCR Orientation

  PCR is a simple and inexpensive tool that can be used to amplify a specific gene.  Define Gene: A distinct sequence of nucleotides forming part of a chromosome.  PCR is used to diagnose diseases, identify bacteria and viruses, paternity tests, the creation of phylogenetic trees, and it’s used to match people to crime scenes.  PCR can generate 100 billion identical copies of a specific DNA sequence in just a few hours! PCR Information

 Nucleotides : Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, and Guanosine (A,T,C, and G) that make up the DNA (building blocks of DNA).  Primers : Attach to sites on DNA strands that are at either end of the selected segment and copy a short sequence.  DNA Polymerase : attach the matching DNA nucleotides in the correct sequence by reading the opposite strand. PCR basic definitions

  The first four steps are additions of different molecules:  1) Add a sample of DNA to a PCR test tube.  2) Add primers 1 and 2 which will attach to specific sequences.  3) Add nucleotides to PCR tube.  4) Add Taq polymerase (which can sustain high heat) to the PCR tube to help with replication. PCR Steps

  5) Heat at 95˚C to separate the two DNA strands  6) Cool at 50˚C so the primers can attach to specific sequences.  7) Set at 75˚C to activate DNA polymerase to copy the sequence.  8) Repeat many times to amplify the DNA. PCR Steps

 PCR Video

 Click the link at the bottom to do a virtual PCR lab. Once you have finished this and feel confident go onto the quiz. Click the forward arrow. Otherwise click the back arrow or the home button to review. PCR Application

 PCR Question 1 What is the 5 th step of a PCR reaction? Add Primers 1 and 2 to the PCR tube. Heat at 95˚C to separate the DNA strands. Repeat many times to amplify DNA. Add Taq-polymerase to the PCR tube.

 Correct! Good Job! During the 5 th step the solution is heated at 95˚C to separate the DNA strands!

 Try again! Think about the process of PCR and note the specific order each step happens in. If you need more help please go back and review the material.

 PCR Question 2 What kind of people use PCR to help with their work? Doctors Forensic scientists Firefighters All of the above Only A & B

 You’re right! Doctors and forensic scientists use PCR to complete their jobs.

 Think about it! What would a doctor do with PCR? What would a forensic scientist use it for? Would a firefighter use it? Try again or go back and review!

 PCR Question 3 Why are primers added to the PCR tube? To speed up the reaction. To serve as the building blocks of DNA. To attach to selected sequences and prepare a short segment of DNA to be copied.

 Correct! Primers attach to DNA and copy a short segment of it!

 Incorrect! Please try again or review the material. Think about the definitions of the words nucleotides and enzymes.

 PCR Question 4 What are nucleotides? Building blocks of DNA Random letters Something that copies DNA They’re part of the heating process

 Good job! Nucleotides are the adanine, thymine, cytosine, and guanosine (the A,T,C, and G) that makes up the different DNA strands. They’re DNA’s building blocks. Continue to the GMO section by clicking HERE.HERE Otherwise great job!!! You’re done!!

 Incorrect! Please review the material or try again.

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