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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, students purify the restriction enzyme, Eco RI. This procedure utilised an ion exchange chromatograph step for Eco RI purification. Column fractions are assayed for the enzyme using Lambda DNA and digestion products are identified by gel electrophoresis. Fractions that contain Eco RI are identified and pooled. The total and specific activities are calculated. Recommended for advanced courses.

Supplier: EDVOTEK

The second assay used to confirm a positive HIV ELISA result is the Western blot. Using this kit, students separate protein samples from hypothetical patients on agarose gels. The proteins are then transferred to a membrane and simulated HIV proteins are detected.

Supplier: EDVOTEK

Evidence left behind at a crime scene can identify a potential culprit. Even in this age of DNA, fingerprints and blood stains are still important in helping to identify a criminal. In this experiment, students solve a crime by dusting for fingerprints and use fluorescent dust to search for and identify trace amounts of blood.

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

An infectious outbreak requires prompt and accurate identification of the biological agent. Often, early clinical symptoms are first identified in exposed individuals and then infectious agents are identified by lab tests. In this experiment, students transmit a simulated infectious agent (chemical dye) between classmates which is only visible under long UV light. The pattern of transmission and primary source is documented.

Supplier: EDVOTEK

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.

Supplier: EDVOTEK

Most molecules have a net charge within a pH range of 2 to 10. When the pH is altered, the net charge on molecules can change drastically. In this experiment, a mixture of two chemicals is absorbed onto a solid support ion-exchange column and separated during elution under conditions that influence their net charge.

Supplier: EDVOTEK

Four experimental modules are combined into one experiment to provide a comprehensive biotechnology exploration focusing on the green fluorescent protein (GFP). Bacterial cells are transformed to express the GFP. The transformed cells are then grown and the GFP purified by column chromatography. Finally, the purity of the protein fractions are analysed by SDS polyacrylamide electrophoresis.

Supplier: EDVOTEK

Bovine spongiform encephalophathy (BSE), also known as Mad Cow Disease, is a neurodegenerative, fatal condition in cattle. Consuming BSE-infected beef is believed to be the cause of a similar condition in humans, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. In this experiment, students examine simulated PCR products from several feed mills, to determine any possible violations of the ban on including animal parts in cattle feed.

Supplier: EDVOTEK

In this experiment, students study the diversity of fish using pre-stained, lyophilised proteins. Total protein from perch, walleye and salmon is extracted and pre-stained using an indicator dye. Each fish protein sample has a characteristic banding pattern when separated by denaturing SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, which can be used to identify the specific species.

Supplier: EDVOTEK

Oil spills cause devastation to the environment, killing sea life, birds, and coastal plants. Spraying areas of contamination with oil-eating microbes accelerates the degradation of the oil. This process is known as bioremediation. In this open-ended experiment, students grow a mixture of oil-eating bacteria and observe their effectiveness at degrading a variety of oils.

Supplier: EDVOTEK

Basic concepts of DNA fingerprinting are featured in this Ready-to-Load™ kit by comparing crime scene DNA with suspect DNAs. Fingerprint patterns are separated by agarose gel electrophoresis and the students determine who may have commited the crime.

Supplier: EDVOTEK

Cancer cells differ from normal cells by the combinations of proteins that are present on their surfaces. Antibodies against these proteins will specifically bind to cancer cells and not to normal cells. This allows early detection of cancer and potentially a way of delivering cancer therapies. In this simulation experiment the reaction of cancer cell markers and their corresponding antigens are demonstrated.

Supplier: EDVOTEK

The Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria is used extensively in all areas of science. Many organisms have been transformed with the GFP gene, the gene responsible for bioluminescence in jellyfish. It has proven to be so useful that scientists have mutated it to produce Blue Fluorescent Protein (BFP). In this simple experiment, students transform bacteria either by GFP, BFP or both.

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

According to the World Health Organisation, between two and three million cases of skin cancer occur globally every year. Many of these cases are caused by preventable damage to DNA by UV light. In this experiment, students expose plasmid DNA to shortwave UV light to simulate the effect of sunbathing. The DNA is then analysed by agarose gel electrophoresis to observe the damage.

Supplier: EDVOTEK

The body defends itself from attack by infectious agents like bacteria and viruses by producing antibodies. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) test for antibodies present in the blood, which indicate infection. In this experiment, students perform a simulated ELISA test to identify infected samples and compare them to control samples.

Supplier: EDVOTEK

When bacteria are used to make medicinally useful proteins by transformation, the protein of interest must be separated from all of the other cellular proteins. In this experiment, the unique fluorescent properties of GFP and BFP are used as an assay during their purification from an E. coli extract. The column fractions containing GFP or BFP are identified by fluorescence and then purified. As an optional activity, purified protein fractions can be separated by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) to estimate the purity and size of the GFP and BFP proteins.

Supplier: EDVOTEK

When normal cells are grown in culture they stop growing when they become overcrowded (contact inhibition). Cancer cells in culture grow in an uncontrolled way because they have lost this property. This helps tumours to form in the body. In addition, many different cell types can be present in a single tumour. This experiment allows students to see the differences between normal and cancer cells in both their growth and cell types.

Supplier: EDVOTEK

Coronary heart disease and stroke are major causes of death in the Western world. Elevated blood cholesterol levels are a serious risk factor in both conditions. The genetic disease familial hypersholesterolemia (FH) causes an increase in blood levels of the bad form of cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL). In untreated patients with the mutant FH gene, the condition can cause premature death. This experiment introduces the colorimetric enzymatic reaction which is the basis of the clinical cholesterol test. In addition, using agarose gel electrophoresis, students can analyse a simulated genetic screening for a disease.

Supplier: EDVOTEK

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.

Supplier: MACHEREY-NAGEL

Materials kit for scientific education.

Supplier: MACHEREY-NAGEL

Advanced kit for science education.

Supplier: MACHEREY-NAGEL

Advanced kit for science education.

Supplier: G-Biosciences

Prepacked purification columns for protein purification. Supplied in packs of five.

Supplier: MACHEREY-NAGEL

Advanced kit for science education.

Supplier: G-Biosciences

The kit utilises the principle of diffusion of nucleic acids on a nylon membrane to determine their concentration. No spectrophotometers required.

Supplier: MACHEREY-NAGEL

An ideal introductory kit for the science education sector. The kit contains all the the chemicals, plates and accessories for students to perform separations of dyes including: anthaquinone dye mixtures, lipophilic dye mixtures and food dye mixtures. The TLC plates are polyester sheet based with either silica, cellulose or alumina as coating.

Supplier: G-Biosciences

The Affinity Chromatography kit teaches the basic principle of affinity chromatography utilising highly specific affinity columns. This lab activity involves preparation of a crude protein extract and running affinity exchange chromatography for isolation of a protein.