This document summarizes an IB SL Biology lab report on transforming E. coli bacteria with a plasmid containing GFP and using gel electrophoresis to separate DNA fragments. The aim was to engineer E. coli to glow green under UV light and use gel electrophoresis to separate DNA based on size. The hypothesis was that transformed E. coli would be resistant to ampicillin and glow green, and gel electrophoresis would separate DNA by fragment size with smaller fragments traveling farther. The document outlines the lab procedure and variables tested.

1. Essay about Biology Lab
IB SL Biology Lab
Molecular Biology:
Transformation and Electrophoresis
Christina Qi
2/16/07
Aim:
How can a plasmid be engineered to include a foreign piece of DNA and how does gel electrophoresis separate DNA molecules present in a mixture?
Hypothesis:
If the pGLO plasmid is inserted into competent Escherichia coli cells, then the transformed bacteria will be resistant to ampicillin and will glow green
under UV light. If samples of DNA are cut using certain restriction enxymes and separated using gel electrophoresis, then the smaller the DNA
fragment cut, the greater the distance it will travel in the gel.
Variables: The control plates used in transformation are the LB and second LB/Amp plates marked...show more content...
The LB/Amp/ara, and one of the LB/Amp plates marked with a "+" are the experimental plates.
The LB and second LB/Amp plates marked with a "–" are the controls.
7. Following 10 minutes of incubation on ice, "heat shock" the bacterial cells. Remove tubes from the ice and immediately immerse them in the 42В°
C water for 50 seconds. Return the tubes immediately to the ice for 2 minutes.
8. Use a sterile transfer pipette to add 250 Ојl of Luria broth (LB) to the tubes. Gently tap the tube with a finger to mix, and set the tubes in the cup
(without the ice) at room temperature for 10 minutes to recover.
9. Use a sterile transfer pipette to add 100 Ојl of cell suspension from the "+" culture tube onto your LB/Amp/ara and LB/Amp plates. Then, using a
new sterile transfer pipette, add 100 Ојl of cell suspension from the "–" culture tube onto your LB/Amp and LB plates. Remember to only open the lid
enough to get the tip of the pipette inside to deposit the 100 Ојl to prevent possible contamination of the culture by bacteria in the air.

2. 10. Using a new inoculation loops, immediately spread the cells over the surface of the plates.
Use one loop to streak the two positive plates. Use a second loop to streak the two negative plates.
To streak, lift the plate lid only enough to get the loop inside, move the loop through the culture and the over the surface of the agar as evenly as
possible.
11.Invert the plates and
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3. Why I Chose Biology
Until I started high school, I had no idea what major I wanted to pursue in college. After all, there are so many options, and even though some people
know what they want to do from the time they are in elementary school, that was not my experience. Although I always had some ideas before entering
ninth grade, I was still waiting to find something I really loved. During my freshman year, I finally found that thing–– biology.
Before high school, I had never looked forward to a science class. The only reason I even took biology freshman year was because it seemed to be
the lesser of two evils, the other being earth science. As it turned out, that biology class became the most pivotal course I took during my four years of
high school, and was a major factor in my decision to choose biology as my major....show more content...
Because genetic research is so new and so many possibilities for using this new technology are still being uncovered, I could have the ability to do
major research in the area through my studies at Johns Hopkins. For example, although scientists know some of the uses of stemcells, they also know
that there are many more things they can be used for that have not been found yet. I am hoping that by majoring in biology, I will have an opportunity
to work in the field of genetics and do research that will save many
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4. Biology Reflection
As the bell rung for the end of first period, I gathered my things and began to walk to my second period class, Biology. Biology was always to me
the hardest subject I had ever dealt with because there was so much to learn, study, and truly understand. I walked through the door into the classroom
and I'll never forget the words I heard my teacher say that caught me so off–guard. "Get out your notes and study because you have a test today", he
said. As I heard him finish his sentence, my eyes widen and I quickly moved towards my seat and began to skim over my notes as fast as I could. I
had completely forgot that I had a test in biology.
While reading over my notes, I kept thinking to myself that I just knew I was going to fail this test. After a couple of minutes of studying, I heard
the teach yell "5 more minutes". I began to skim even faster over my notes. It felt like time was moving so fast because when I heard my teach yell
"times up", it seemed as if only 2 minutes had passed by. He passed out the answer sheet around the classroom and instructed us to fill out our student
ID numbers. I looked over the unfilled answer sheet and counted the amount of questions. There were 30 questions in total which frightened me even
more because I had to answer 30 questions on information that I barely studied. Then he handed out the test and I became extremely nervous because
not only did I barely study and there were 30 multiple choice questions, but the classroom was so cold that
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5. Biology Major Essay
I am pursuing the major Bio Sciences: Human Biology Intent with the intentions of using this major to help increase my chances of going to medical
school. This major will also assist me in exploring my love for biology, thus why I am determined to go to medical school in order to learn about the
human body and diseases.
In ten years I see myself as a college graduate who is currently attending medical school. While I am enrolled in medical school I will be pursuing a
career as a pediatrician. To make this vision a reality I am pursuing a biology major. This major will give me the opportunity to learn more about what I
am passionate about and expand my views on biology.
I discovered my passion for biology during my time in elementary school.
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6. Love For Biology
My love for science started when I took a biology class during my freshman year at Crest High School. I loved the teacher and the subject; it
included a little bit of everything, including things like anatomy and ecology. It was interesting learning about the different parts of science and I
thought the material came easy to me and helped me become successful in the class. During my sophomore year, I decided to take Ap Biology. The
class challenged me in many ways It taught me how to improve my study skills and become a better student since the class provided a deeper insight
into things that I had already been taught. This class was a bit more difficult and required a lot of studying at home besides what we would do in class.
I found the
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