Mrs. Rood's AP Biology Students Conduct Genetic Engineering

Students in Mrs. Rood's AP Biology course recently conducted an experiment in genetic engineering. Transformation of cells is a widely used and versatile tool in genetic engineering and is of critical importance in the development of molecular biology. The purpose of this technique is to introduce a foreign plasmid into bacteria, the bacteria then amplifies the plasmid, making large quantities of it.

The students utilized DNA from glow-in-the-dark jellyfish and introduced it into bacteria cells. During the experiment, the DNA from the jellyfish is moved into the E. coli bacteria. The bacteria read the DNA and produce the protein as it would be produced in a jellyfish and thereby glow in the dark. It models how bacteria are used in genetic engineering for making human insulin, producing modified foods, etc. Congratulations on Mrs. Rood's AP Biology students in their successful implementation of this process.