Educational Materials

Supplier: G-Biosciences

This lab activity is designed to demonstrate the different classes of protein molecules and their classification based on solubility. Students learn fractionation of soluble, insoluble membrane proteins, and cytoskeleton proteins from a tissue sample. The insoluble protein fraction is further fractionated into hydrophilic and hydrophobic membrane proteins. Cell membrane structure and the role of hydrophobic membrane proteins are considered. This lab activity also provides an opportunity to understand characteristics of various classes of detergents and the role of detergents in solubilisation of hydrophobic membrane proteins.

Supplier: G-Biosciences

The physical properties of proteins kit is a lab activity that enables students to investigate the physical properties of several different proteins. Students will learn about protein solubility and how it is affected by various parameters; including temperature, pH, salt and dielectric constant. They will understand about protein precipitation due to pH, high salt and in the presence of organic solvents and about protein denaturation as a result of high temperature. In addition, the kit will demonstrate how non-protein agents, such as detergents drastically alter the physical properties of protein molecules and as a result, understand the importance of detergents in protein solubilisation. This lab activity involves analysis of three different types of pure proteins and then students alter some of those properties with a detergent and re-examine physical properties of those proteins. Students are challenged to consider how physical properties of protein molecules can be exploited for purification and characterisation of proteins and apply their findings on a test sample of complex tissue extract.

Supplier: G-Biosciences

Dot blotting is a simple technique to identify a known protein in a biological sample. The ease and simplicity of the technique makes dot blotting an ideal diagnostic tool.

Supplier: EDVOTEK

The DNA from bacteriophage Lambda is a well-characterised linear molecule containing six recognition sites for Eco RI (5 distinct sites, 2 are very close in size). In this experiment, Lambda DNA is digested by the Eco RI endonuclease. The digestion products are analysed by agarose gel electrophoresis.

Supplier: EDVOTEK

This experiment introduces students to the principles of antigen-antibody interactions by using the Ouchterlony procedure. Antibodies and antigens form complexes that precipitate, making it possible to assay antibody-antigen systems. The binding interaction results in the formation of a white precipitate after diffusion in agarose.

Supplier: EDVOTEK

This easy and safe experiment allows students to learn about enzyme catalysis, the nature of enzyme action, and protein structure-function relationship. Students will perform an enzyme assay and determine the rate of the enzymatic reaction.

Supplier: EDVOTEK

Small-scale, rapid isolation of plasmid DNA is a routine procedure used for screening and analysis of recombinant DNAs in cloning and sub-cloning experiments. In this experiment, students isolate plasmid DNA without the use of toxic chemicals such as phenol or chloroform.

Supplier: EDVOTEK

An HIV test detects HIV infection indirectly using an ELISA test against HIV antibodies in the blood. The test works by taking antibodies from the patient's blood and adding them to a microtitre plate coated with HIV antigen. If HIV antibodies are present, they will bind to the antigens on the plate. In this experiment, students perform an ELISA text by coating microtitre plate wells with simulated HIV antigen and then test simulated donor serum for anti-HIV antibodies.

Supplier: EDVOTEK

Plasmid and lambda DNA are pre-digested with restriction endonucleases that recognise and cut double-stranded DNA within or near defined base sequences. Digests are separated by agarose gel electrophoresis.

Supplier: EDVOTEK

Solve the mystery of two boys separated from their parents a decade ago. Their biological mother is identified by mitochondrial DNA and their biological father from chromosomal DNA.

Supplier: G-Biosciences

This DNA fingerprinting kit allows students to carry out their own criminal investigation by comparing DNA samples collected from suspects to DNA collected at a pseudo-crime scene.

Supplier: EDVOTEK

When DNA is subcloned in the pUC polylinker region, β-galactosidase production is interrupted, resulting in the inability of cells to hydrolyse X-Gal. This results in the production of white colonies amongst a background of blue colonies. This experiment provides a DNA fragment together with a linear plasmid and T4 DNA ligase. Following the ligation to synthesis the recombinant plasmid, competent E. coli cells are transformed and the number of recombinant antibiotic-resistant white and blue colonies are counted. β-galactosidase activity is assayed from blue and white bacterial cells.

Supplier: EDVOTEK

Genetic modification of plants is a controversial area of biotechnology. All such experiments in plants begin with establishing plant cells in culture. This involves de-differentiating plant cells to form plant 'stem cells'. In this experiment, students establish cell cultures of African violets from leaves. They then use plant growth regulators to encourage root growth from the cultured cells, and produce a mature plant.

Supplier: EDVOTEK

In this experiment, transformed cells take up a plasmid containing the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) gene. The GFP gene was isolated from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria. Transformed colonies expressing the GFP protein are visibly green in normal light but will fluoresce brightly when exposed to longwave UV light.

Supplier: EDVOTEK

Students use primers for a 300 base pair Alu insertion in chromosome 16 (PV92) to determine their own genotype. They can then compare their class results with others around the world over the internet.

Supplier: EDVOTEK

Ready-to-Load™ PCR kit introduces students to the principles and applications of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). This simulation experiment does not contain human DNA and does not require a thermal cycler.