DNA Fingerprinting

Create a DNA Fingerprint ( http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sheppard/analyze.html )

Introduction:

1. DNA is unique for everyone. The only exception is if a person has what?
An identical twin would be the exception.

2. What are DNA fingerprints used for?
Determining a biological mother or father.

Part 1 “It Takes a Lickin”

3. What “crime” was committed?
Jimmy Sweet's lollipop was licked by someone other than himself. Supposedly, one of his seven sisters.

4. What bodily fluid was removed from the “crime scene” to get DNA?
Saliva.

Part 2 “DNA Fingerprinting at the NOVA Lab”

5. What does a restriction enzyme do?
It cuts the long strands of DNA into different sections, and the length of those fragments will determine who ate the lollipop because everyone's DNA is different and will be cut differently.

6. What is agarose gel?
A thick, pours, jello-like substance that will act as a molecular strainer and allow the smaller pieces of DNA to move through more easily.

7. What is electrophoresis?
The process of moving molecules with electricity. THe DNA fragments have a negative charge and therefore move to the positive charged end.

8. Smaller fragments of DNA move ____________ than longer strands?
More easily.

9. Why do you need to place a nylon membrane over the gel?
Because agarose is hard to work with and the nylon is used to transfer the DNA from the aragose to the membrane.

10. Probes attach themselves to __________
The DNA fragments on the nylon membrane.

11. Which chemical in your “virtual lab” is radioactive?
Probes.

12. Sketch your DNA fingerprint.
It looks like a bar code you find on products in a store. There was a little more space between the black lines, but the idea of the bar code is the same. Out of curiosity, were bar codes developed before or after the DNA was discovered? If after, then was bar code copied after, and if before, then was it just a mere coincidence? There were 3 fat bars, one medium bar, 6 skinny bars, and 2 anorexic bars.


13. Based on your DNA fingerprint, who licked the lollipop?
Honey Sweet.


 

Click on the Link “DNA Workshop” (if this link won't load, scroll down to the bottom where it says "try the non-java script version)
Once you’re there, go to the link “DNA Workshop Activity” and practice with DNA replication and protein synthesis.

Browse the DNA Workshop site.


14. What kinds of things could you do at the DNA workshop?
DNA replication and protein synthesis.
 

 

Find an Article about DNA

Go to http://www.thegenesite.com/

15. Read an article about genetics at this site that you might find interesting, or use the "Search" box in the upper right hand corner to search for DNA fingerprinting.

Title of Article: CHEMISISTS CREATE DNA ASSEMBLY LINE Author and Date: SCIENCE DAYILY/MAY 14, 2010

Summarize what the article was about. Write this in a paragraph format.
Chemists created a DNA assembly line which consisted of three DNA machines are used in the DNA assembly line. The first is known as a DNA origami, which is a composition that involves a couple hundred short DNA strands to direct a long DNA strand to form to the desired shape. The next is known as a "cassette" which determine the cargo being moved in the DNA. Changing the sequence of the machines, scientists can enable to prevent the cargo being transported. The last is known as a "walker." This moves the assemble track and picks up the cargo at the priorly mentioned machines.