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.

• For 10 lab groups
• Gel prep, 30 minutes; electrophoresis, 45 minutes; staining, 2 minutes; cholesterol assay, 60 minutes

Also required: Electrophoresis tank, power supply, automatic micropipette with tips, incubator or water bath, spectrophotometer and cuvettes, and UV transilluminator.