Lab report 4
Abstract
This pBlu lab had for purpose to present the changes of the strain of E. coli bacteria due to new genetic information being introduced into the cell. In this experiment we are freezing and heat shocking the E. Coli bacteria that is then forced to take the plasmid DNA. The E. coli then transforms the pBLu plasmid, which carries the genes coding for two identifiable phenotypes. After following the Carolina Biological steps our lab worked well and we able to see some colonies of bacteria on the plates. The x-gal plate showed a significant amount of bacteria to confirm that the pBlu plasmid took over the E. coli strain.
Introduction
This lab was meant to reveal the variations of different strains of bacteria when the DNA is changed. Bacteria’s organisms in general don’t have a true nucleus. When the DNA is in the nucleoid region there are things called plasmids that are meant to store them. These plasmids are formed in a ring shape. The pBLU plasmid has its characteristics taken from the E. coli strain that was restart by an antibiotic called ampicillin and also a strain of E. coli that would react to it and change its color to a blue/green one. The plasmids are in the cells and are secure so we have to relax the bacteria in order to get new genetic material. The genetic material was inserted in the heat shock that lasted 90 seconds. This heat shock was used to shock the cells and to force them to take in the foreign plasmid. By doing this lab we wanted to present the changes of the E. coli due to new genetic information that the cell would take in. The E. coli is supposed to take the plasmid DNA and it did. The amp gene offered resistance to the antibiotic while the sugar beta galactosidase breaks down the galactose analog x-gal to blue. Our gels showed significant results with clear dozens of blue colonies on the containers containing the Blu Luria broth/amp and the Blu LB/AMP/X-gal. And where there was not suppose
References: Carolina Biological Supply Company. pBLU Colony Transformation. Worksheets one and two. 2014 "What are Plasmids?" (Press release). http://www.innovateus.net/. 2006-2011. Retrieved 5 July 2013. "Escherichia coli". CDC National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases. Retrieved 2012-10-02.