This kit uses electrophoresis to separate DNA fragments.
- Lab Aligned with AP Biology Lab 6
- Proven Materials and Methods
- Curriculum Manual with Teacher and Student Guides
- Supplies and Techniques Used in Biotech Labs
- Material to Support 32 Students Working in Groups
In this lab, three different restriction enzymes are used to digest genomic DNA samples of the lambda bacteriophage. The lambda genome has approximately 48,000 base pairs. Each restriction enzyme cuts the lambda DNA several times, generating fragments of different sizes that are separated by agarose gel electrophoresis and visualized using Bio-Rad’s nontoxic Fast Blast™ DNA stain. Lambda DNA comes from a bacterial virus, or bacteriophage, that attacks bacteria by injecting them with its nucleic acid. Once inside, lambda DNA hijacks the bacterial cellular machinery and replicates itself until the cells burst and releases millions more bacteriophages to carry out the same infection process. Bacteriophage lambda is harmless to humans and other eukaryotic organisms and makes an excellent source of DNA for experimental study.
Aligned with AP Biology Lab 6, this experiment can be completed in one 45 minute lab session.
Ordering information: This kit contents PstI lambda DNA digest ecori lambda DNA digest, lambda DNA uncut, standard-size DNS (hindlii lambda DNA digest), sample loading buffer, 5x, 1 mL, agarose powder, 5 g ,electrophoresis buffer, 50x tae, 100 mL, Fast Blast DNA stain, 500x, 100 mL, colored microcentrifuge tubes, 2.0 mL, foam floats, gel-staining trays, curriculum including a teacher’s guide, a student manual. The following items are required but not included: horizontal gel electrophoresis chambers, adjustable micropipets (2 – 20 µl, 20 – 200 µl), pipet tips (2 – 200 µl), and power supplies.