Educational Materials

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Observe the differences between mammalian cell types and how these cells funciton. Cells are fixed on microscope slides and students stain the cells on the slide to view morphological characteristics of the cell types. These cells are very safe for classroom use.

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ABO and Rh typing of blood left at the scene of a crime can help to narrow down a list of suspects. In this experiment, students use agglutination to identify the blood group of unknown blood samples as a step to identify a criminal.

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Safe drinking water is vitally important to health. Both pathogenic and harmless bacteria can be found in the guts of mammals and birds. Testing water for every possible type of pathogenic bacteria is slow and costly. Thus, water is tested for a characteristic type of gut bacteria - the coliforms - including the familiar E. coli. Presence of coliforms is an indicator for faecal contamination. In this experiment, students test for coliforms in simulated contaminated water using colour and fluorescent reagents. They can use these same reagents to test water samples from the environment. As an extension activity, a Gram Stain test can be performed on the collected samples.

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Using prestained LyphoProteins, subunit molecular weights are determined by analysis using denaturing SDS vertical polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Prestained proteins with unknown molecular weights are assigned molecular weights based on the relative mobility of prestained standard protein markers.

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Ready-to-Load™ kit for introducing the use of restriction enzymes as a tool to digest lambda DNA at specific nucleotide sequences.

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In this experiment, students will take on the role of transplant physicians. They will analyze simulated blood samples for transplant compatibility and compare genetic markers to identify which donor is the best match for a leukemia patient in need of a stem cell transplant.

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Suppressor genes, such as p53, are essential for cell functions. Mutations in the p53 gene can be correlated to predisposition for certain cancers. Mutations of genes can either be inherited or accumulated due to environmental insults. This experiment deals with a family pedigree determination of several generations relating to cancer formation due to p53 gene mutation.

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Drinking water is routinely tested for contamination. If a screening tests positive, more sophisticated tests are required. One such test uses PCR in multiplex format. In this experiment, students test for the presence of three separate, classroom-safe organisms in a water sample using a single PCR reaction.

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This experiment introduces students to Southern blotting as a tool for DNA fingerprinting in a hypothetical paternity determination. DNA fragments are first separated by agarose gel electrophoresis, then transferred to a nylon membrane and finally visualised by staining.

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Infectious mononucleosis is commonly known as the 'kissing disease'. The causative agent is Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which can be transmitted through saliva during kissing. In this experiment, students search for the presence of EBV using the ELISA reaction to detect specific viral proteins.

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Ready-to-Load™ kit for teaching DNA fingerprinting and to show how DNA evidence is used in modern forensics. This experiment allows for varied results depending on the selection of DNA fingerprinting patterns.

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This experiment introduces chromatographic separation to the class and shows students how dyes of different colours separate on the basis of their size and shape. Columns may be rinsed and reused.

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Southern blotting is an important technique used widely in clinical genetics and research. By transferring DNA from an agarose gel onto a membrane the method allows the precise analysis and identification of DNA bands on a gel. Using this kit, students use Southern blotting to find a point mutation in the haemoglobin gene indicating Sickle Cell Anaemia.

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Microarray technology allows scientists to screen large numbers of samples in one assay. This technology allows high-throughput screening of small samples and allows comparisons to be made between healthy and unhealthy tissues. In this experiment, students apply simulated DNA and RNA samples to a membrane to screen for positive and negative samples.

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Isolation of high molecular weight chromosomal DNA is the first step in molecular cloning since it is the source of genes in cells. This experiment provides DNA extraction LyphoCells and reagents for isolating chromosomal DNA from E. coli. After spooling from solution, the DNA can be dissolved and analysed by agarose gel electrophoresis as an optional lab extension activity.

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This Lab activity shows students what real chromosomal DNA Looks Like and allows them to explore the procedures involved in DNA extraction.