Alu PCR Lab |
Overview
In this Lab we were tasked to take our cheek cells and amplify them so that we can see our DNA. That way we can determine if we are homozygous or heterozygous. We could also determine whether or not we have a certain "extra strand" of our DNA. To do this we used PCR.
Purpose
To determine the frequency of the Alu insert using PCR.
Materials:
- Cheek cells
- Chelex
- Master Mix
- Primer mix
- Agarose gel
- DNA saline solution
- Centrifuge
- Microfuge tubes
- Heat block
- micropipets
- Microfuge tubes
- Tube rack
Process
1) Take cheek cells and it put into saline solution
2) Centrifuge then "rack" the cells
3) Pour out supernatant
4) Transfer cells to 5% chelex
5) Insert cap lock and place on heating block
6) Then centrifuge
7) Transfer to another microfuge tube
8) Place in Agarose gel and wait for analysis
Results:
In the end we concluded that I am a Homozygous. We had to restart the lab a couple of times due to error in following instructions correctly, but I do believe the data we collected was correct.
Conclusion
Although we did run into many complications including a mix up of our experiments and having it so that we had to completely restart the experiment, it was still sort of fun. Though not the greatest experiment it was interesting to see whether or not I had that certain Alu extension.
In this Lab we were tasked to take our cheek cells and amplify them so that we can see our DNA. That way we can determine if we are homozygous or heterozygous. We could also determine whether or not we have a certain "extra strand" of our DNA. To do this we used PCR.
Purpose
To determine the frequency of the Alu insert using PCR.
Materials:
- Cheek cells
- Chelex
- Master Mix
- Primer mix
- Agarose gel
- DNA saline solution
- Centrifuge
- Microfuge tubes
- Heat block
- micropipets
- Microfuge tubes
- Tube rack
Process
1) Take cheek cells and it put into saline solution
2) Centrifuge then "rack" the cells
3) Pour out supernatant
4) Transfer cells to 5% chelex
5) Insert cap lock and place on heating block
6) Then centrifuge
7) Transfer to another microfuge tube
8) Place in Agarose gel and wait for analysis
Results:
In the end we concluded that I am a Homozygous. We had to restart the lab a couple of times due to error in following instructions correctly, but I do believe the data we collected was correct.
Conclusion
Although we did run into many complications including a mix up of our experiments and having it so that we had to completely restart the experiment, it was still sort of fun. Though not the greatest experiment it was interesting to see whether or not I had that certain Alu extension.