Genetic Engineering and Gene Regulation

What is genetic engineering? Manually adding new DNA to an organism, giving an organism traits it wouldn’t naturally have 3:14 – 5:07 at Q4

Genetically Engineered Bacteria Relatively easy – bacteria readily take up DNA from other organisms. Can use this technology to have bacteria produce proteins – Take the gene for insulin from a human, insert it into a bacteria. Bacteria will produce insulin that can be used for diabetics

Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) Protein glows green under UV light Found naturally in jellyfish Can be incorporated into a ring of DNA that E. coli will easily take up from the environment This ring of DNA is called the pGLO plasmid.

When we want to give bacteria a new trait, we first need to put a plasmid together that has the gene of interest. Restriction enzyme GFP gene Ligase

Then we put that plasmid into a bacterium

Our E. Coli They already have the plasmid inserted into them

Your task today Today you will be growing colonies of transformed (genetically modified) E. coli that have the GFP gene.

Instructions 1.Get an agar plate and a sterile loop. 2.From the stock plate, gently scrape a small amount of bacteria from the surface. Don’t dig into the agar! 3.Gently slide the loop over the surface of your agar plate. Again, be gentle! 4.Put the lid back on your plate. Label with your names and period.

Day 2 Get your plate Make observations – did your E. coli grow? Look at your E. coli under the UV light. Is it glowing?

So why aren’t they glowing? Just having the right DNA isn’t enough. Need to signal to the cell to use that DNA

Signals and Bar Codes

Add arabinose The signal for E. coli to read the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene is a sugar called arabinose. Add a circle of filter paper soaked in water to the surface of one side of your plate Add a triangle of filter paper soaked in arabinose to the other side of your plate. E. coli Filter paper soaked in arabinose Filter paper soaked in water

Day 3 Get your plate Look at your E. coli under a UV light. What do you notice?

Write your conclusion Write a CER conclusion that answers the question: “How can specific genes be turned on in bacteria transformed with the pGLO plasmid?”