You searched for: Educational Materials

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

DNA mapping is a common procedure used to determine the location of genes. In this experiment, DNA markers and pre-digested plasmid DNA fragments are mapped using agarose gel electrophoresis.

Supplier: EDVOTEK

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.

Supplier: EDVOTEK

This experiment introduces chromatographic theory and methods of thin layer chromatography (TLC). A mixture of dyes are separated on a cellulose-based TLC plate using different solvent systems.

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

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.

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

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

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

Students learn the basic principles of the Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) using this precise and sensitive antibody-based detection kit.

Supplier: EDVOTEK

Ready-to-Load™ kit to show how electrophoresis separates molecules on the basis of size and charge.

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

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 three most frequently used restriction enzymes are Eco RI, Bam HI and Hind III. Each enzyme catalyses cleavage at the defined base sequence. All enzymes are lyophilised and contain 1500 units. One unit is defined as the amount of enzyme required to digest 1,0 µg of lambda DNA in 60 minutes at 37 °C in a total reaction mixture of 50 µl.

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

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

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

Infectious agents such as bacteria and viruses can spread rapidly through a population and cause widespready disease and death. In this experiment, students use coloured solutions to simulate the spreading of a disease in the classroom.

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: G-Biosciences

Dialysis is a routinely used technique in research laboratories to 'change' the solution a biomolecule is dissolved in. Often the buffers used to isolate biomolecules, such as proteins, are not compatible with downstream applications due to high concentrations of reagents, such as salts. A sample is placed in a bag with a semi-permeable membrane and then placed in the new solution or water. Small molecules, such as salt, can pass through the membrane, moving from an area of high concentration to low concentration. The larger molecules, such as proteins, are retained in the bag. Microdialysis is a modification of dialysis to overcome the problem of dialysing small volumes of precious samples. Microdialysis uses small devices designed for small volumes. This kit allows students to study dialysis using patented microdialysis devices.

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: EDVOTEK

With this kit, students sample water and air and then grow any microbes present overnight. A safe and simple way to teach pollution.

Supplier: G-Biosciences

Using the Protein Electrophoresis kit, students will learn the principles of various types of electrophoresis, including denaturing and non-denaturing electrophoresis, and how this powerful technique is used to analyse proteins. The kit will introduce students to the different separation matrices currently in use and will understand their differing separation properties and their role in protein analysis. Students have an option of casting their own electrophoresis gels using polyacrylamide or using pre-cast commercially available gels. This kit is provided with all of the reagents, buffers and supplies needed for casting acrylamide gels, preparing protein samples, running electrophoresis, and staining the gels for visualisation of protein bands. Test protein samples and protein standards are also provided.

Supplier: G-Biosciences

Following restriction enzyme digestion of DNA molecules, researchers need to rejoin the ends of the DNA to generate recombinant DNA, a process known as ligation. Ligation of DNA is achieved with the bacterial enzyme T4 DNA ligase, which catalyses the formation of phosphodiester bonds. The DNA Ligation kit teaches students about ligation as they ligate several DNA fragments together to make larger pieces of DNA that are easily identified by agarose electrophoresis.

Supplier: G-Biosciences

The Hydrophobic Chromatography kit is designed to teach students the basic principle of hydrophobic chromatography utilising a hydrophobic enzyme. The use of the enzyme allows purification followed by a simple enzyme assay to detect the fractions that contain the enzyme. This lab activity involves preparation of a crude protein extract and running hydrophobic chromatography to isolate the enzyme.

Supplier: G-Biosciences

In this lab activity, students learn to perform carefully controlled experiments to generate protein fragments using a proteolysis enzyme and then analyse the protein fragments by electrophoresis. By analysis of protein fragmentation patterns, i.e. protein fingerprints, students learn about protein sequence, structure, and their conservation. Students resolve a set of three functionally identical protein samples selected from throughout the animal kingdom; including human, bovine and sheep. After generating fingerprints by electrophoresis, students examine the protein fingerprint of each sample to determine the degree of conservation.

Supplier: G-Biosciences

This lab activity involves analysis of an enzyme reaction using a specific enzyme substrate and inhibitor. Students study how the rate of enzyme reaction is dependent on substrate concentration and the influence of agents (inhibitors) and conditions that affects the enzyme reaction such as pH and temperature.

Supplier: G-Biosciences

Bacterial conjugation is a naturally occurring process that allows the transfer of DNA from one bacterium to another, which allows the transfer of genetic traits, particularly drug resistance. The kit contains two bacteria with different drug resistance genes and all the tools for students to study bacterial conjugation. This kit teaches the difference between bacterial genomic DNA and the transferable plasmid DNA and the mechanisms of bacterial conjugation. Students will also learn important basic microbiological techniques, including bacterial growth in liquid broth and on solid agar plates, antibiotic selection of bacteria and important aseptic techniques.

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.

Supplier: G-Biosciences

In this lab activity, students learn to perform simple protein isolation procedures to isolate the protein fingerprint from various fresh tissues. They will compare the protein fingerprints of four different tissues to understand that the function of a particular organ is due to the proteins that are localised to the specific organ. Also included in this kit are four dried protein samples (from mouse liver, brain, heart and lungs) to compare as a control, if fresh tissues cannot be obtained.