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Forensic Science: Building Your Own Tool for Identifying DNA
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Summary
DIFFICULTY
TIME REQUIRED
Short (2-5 days)
PREREQUISITES
None
MATERIAL AVAILABILITY
Readily available
COST
Average ($50 - $100)
SAFETY
No issues
Abstract
When biologists want to separate different pieces of DNA, RNA, or proteins they use a technique called gel electrophoresis. In this science project you'll build a gel electrophoresis chamber and use it to discover how many components are in different colors of food coloring dye.
Objective
In this science project you will build your own gel electrophoresis chamber and use it to compare molecules in different colors of food coloring dye.
Background
Materials
Procedure
Make It Your Own
Variations
Are all food coloring dyes made from the same molecules? Compare different brands of food coloring dyes. Do they migrate the same distance over time? Do they have the same color composition?
What food dyes are in your favorite colored candies? Use Bio-Rad's STEM Electrophoresis Kit to jump start your investigation. You will need a teacher's help to order the kit as Bio-Rad sells directly to schools.
What variables affect the rate of electrophoresis separation? There are many variables to explore. Several to start with might be the type of electrode, the amount of power, and the agar percentage of the gel.
Use your gel electrophoresis chamber to determine if two different types of plants use the same molecule for pigment. To prepare your samples, take the flowers from a plant, grind up the flower, add a little bit of isopropyl alcohol, and continue grinding. Once the solids settle, pour the pigment-tinted alcohol into a separate container. Let most of the alcohol evaporate and then add a drop or two of your buffer solution to reconstitute the pigment.
Try combining this experiment with one of the DNA extraction science projects like the Do-It-Yourself DNA or the Extracting Onion DNA Science Buddies project ideas. Can you see the DNA you extracted on your gel? Are there different bands? Note: you will need to use a stain to visualize the DNA. DNA stains are available from online science supply companies, like Science Kit catalog #WW6488701 or Wards Natural Science catalog #38 V 9014.
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CREDITS
Sandra Slutz, PhD, Science Buddies
This science project was adapted from DiSpezio, M. (n.d.) The Gene Hunters: Build an Electrophoresis Chamber. Retrieved March 1, 2008 from the PBS website for Scientific American Frontiers: http://www.pbs.org/saf/1202/teaching/teaching.htm
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MLA Style
Science Buddies Staff. "Forensic Science: Building Your Own Tool for Identifying DNA" Science Buddies. Science Buddies, 15 June 2015. Web. 2 Nov. 2015
APA Style
Science Buddies Staff. (2015, June 15). Forensic Science: Building Your Own Tool for Identifying DNA. Retrieved November 2, 2015 from http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/BioChem_p028.shtml
Last edit date: 2015-06-15
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SearchMenuHome Forensic Science: Building Your Own Tool for Identifying DNAShow Others Like ThisShareSummaryDIFFICULTY TIME REQUIREDShort (2-5 days)PREREQUISITESNoneMATERIAL AVAILABILITYReadily availableCOSTAverage ($50 - $100)SAFETYNo issuesAbstractWhen biologists want to separate different pieces of DNA, RNA, or proteins they use a technique called gel electrophoresis. In this science project you'll build a gel electrophoresis chamber and use it to discover how many components are in different colors of food coloring dye.ObjectiveIn this science project you will build your own gel electrophoresis chamber and use it to compare molecules in different colors of food coloring dye.BackgroundMaterialsProcedureMake It Your OwnVariationsAre all food coloring dyes made from the same molecules? Compare different brands of food coloring dyes. Do they migrate the same distance over time? Do they have the same color composition?What food dyes are in your favorite colored candies? Use Bio-Rad's STEM Electrophoresis Kit to jump start your investigation. You will need a teacher's help to order the kit as Bio-Rad sells directly to schools.What variables affect the rate of electrophoresis separation? There are many variables to explore. Several to start with might be the type of electrode, the amount of power, and the agar percentage of the gel.Use your gel electrophoresis chamber to determine if two different types of plants use the same molecule for pigment. To prepare your samples, take the flowers from a plant, grind up the flower, add a little bit of isopropyl alcohol, and continue grinding. Once the solids settle, pour the pigment-tinted alcohol into a separate container. Let most of the alcohol evaporate and then add a drop or two of your buffer solution to reconstitute the pigment.Try combining this experiment with one of the DNA extraction science projects like the Do-It-Yourself DNA or the Extracting Onion DNA Science Buddies project ideas. Can you see the DNA you extracted on your gel? Are there different bands? Note: you will need to use a stain to visualize the DNA. DNA stains are available from online science supply companies, like Science Kit catalog #WW6488701 or Wards Natural Science catalog #38 V 9014.HelpLearn MorePLEASE GIVE US FEEDBACK!Please rate the overall quality of this Project IdeaExcellentVery GoodGoodOKPoor Do you think that you will do a project similar to this one?YesMaybeNo Send FeedbackCREDITSSandra Slutz, PhD, Science BuddiesThis science project was adapted from DiSpezio, M. (n.d.) The Gene Hunters: Build an Electrophoresis Chamber. Retrieved March 1, 2008 from the PBS website for Scientific American Frontiers: http://www.pbs.org/saf/1202/teaching/teaching.htmStyrofoam™ is a registered trademark of The Dow Chemical Company.อ้างอิงหน้านี้ลักษณะ MLAเพื่อนวิทยาศาสตร์พนักงาน "นิติเวชวิทยา: การสร้างเครื่องมือของคุณเองสำหรับการระบุดีเอ็นเอ" เพื่อนวิทยาศาสตร์ เพื่อนวิทยาศาสตร์ 15 2015 มิถุนายน เว็บ 2 2015 พฤศจิกายน สไตล์อาป้าเพื่อนวิทยาศาสตร์พนักงาน (2015, 15 มิถุนายน) นิติเวชวิทยา: สร้างเครื่องมือของคุณเองสำหรับการระบุดีเอ็นเอ ดึงข้อมูล 2 พฤศจิกายน 2015 จาก http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/BioChem_p028.shtmlแก้ไขครั้งสุดท้าย วัน: 2015-06-15เกี่ยวกับ | ติดต่อ | ดูเวอร์ชันเดสก์ท็อปข้อกำหนดและเงื่อนไข | นโยบายความเป็นส่วนตัวสงวนลิขสิทธิ์ © 2002-2015 วิทยาศาสตร์เพื่อน สงวนลิขสิทธิ์ทั้งหมด
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