Learning Labs:   Molecular Biology

Goals:

to demonstrate how an understanding of DNA molecular structure and function can lead to technological advances that improve our understanding of human history

to introduce students to the biotechnology involved in the study of genetic variability including the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), gel electrophoresis, and bioinformatics

to understand how the study of variability in human DNA can be used to learn about human origins and early human migration patterns

Objectives:

Students will:

run an agarose gel electrophoresis of their amplified DNA samples

review their knowledge of DNA molecular structure and expand their understanding through a discussion of exons, introns, and intergenic DNA, PCR, and bioinformatics

determine their class frequency for the dimorphic pv92 Alu insert

review the Hardy-Weinberg principle, determine Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, and calculate genetic distance from various population groups worldwide

Target audience: Advanced Placement Biology students

Length of presentation: 2 to 2.5 hours

Maine performance indicators: This lab aligns with the following Maine performance indicators: A1, C2, D1, J1 and 2, K1-4 and 6, L3-5, 7 and 8, and is allied with Advanced Placement Biology Labs #6 and #8

Next: pv92 Alu Lab