Learning Labs:   Molecular Biology

Cystic Fibrosis Prenatal Screening

Outline of the Unit

Goals:

• to demonstrate how an understanding of DNA molecular structure and function can lead to technological advances that benefit society
• to introduce students to the biotechnology involved in DNA based testing for genetic disease including the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), gel electrophoresis, and bioinformatics

Objectives:

Students will:

• run an agarose electrophorese gel, simulating a genetic screening test for cystic fibrosis (CF)
• review their knowledge of DNA molecular structure and expand their understanding through a discussion of exons, introns, and intergenic DNA, PCR, and bioinformatics

Target audience:

Biology and Advanced Placement Biology students

Length of presentation:

2.5 hours

Next: Cystic fibrosis screening lab

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