Biology 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

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: 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: 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: 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 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

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

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

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

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

This experiment uses PCR to amplify a small section of Lambda DNA via a 2-step process, saving valuable classroom time and allowing completion of the lab in one session.

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

This experiment introduces students to the use of DNA fingerprinting in a simulated paternity determination. A child's DNA fingerprint is compared with his parents.

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.