Electrophoresis Virtual Lab

Gel Electrophoresis Virtual Lab Worksheet                                                         Name: Brandon Yuen

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/labs/gel/

Make a prediction:

1. How do you think you could figure out the lengths of the strands in the tube of DNA?

Measure a small piece of it, and then multiply it by about the amount of DNA in the tube.

Go through the simulation:

2. What is the process called in which we measure the DNA microscopically?

Gel Electrophoresis

3. What is the “gel”?

Filter that sorts DNA strands. Like a sponge of Jello with many holes.

4. Write down the step of gel electrophoreses
1.  put DNA sample into holes on one end of gel

2.   add electrical current to make DNA move

3.  short strands move further away from starting point, long strands not as far

4. stain the groups of DNA so human eye can see it

5. What does the current do the DNA samples?

Makes the DNA move

6. What kinds of strand move quickly and further down the gel?

shorter strands

7. What kinds of strand move slower and lag behind?

longer stands

8. What about the strand that are the same length?

They would move together. 

9. What helps us see the DNA strand in the gel?

staining it

10. What are the ingredients to make a gel? Make your Gel!

powdered agarose, buffer, flask, microwave, gel  mold, gel comb

11. Load the Gel with the DNA!
12. After you load the DNA sample into the tray, what is the next step? turn on electricity and run the gel

13. How do you know current is running through the gel?

tiny air bubbles will appear

14. After the gel is done, what must you do to it before you can analyze your results?

stain the DNA with DNA staining solution

15. How long does this process take?

about half an hour

16. What type of light do you use to view the gel? Is it safe and what precautions would you might need to use?

ultraviolet light

protective glasses

                                                                                                                               

17. Take a screenshot of your gel and paste below.

If you do not know how to take a screen shot go to http://www.take-a-screenshot.org

18. Write your size estimates below:

1. Strand 1: 6000

2. Strand 2: 3500

3. Strand 3: 1500

                                       

                                                 

19. Could you list one reason why we would run a Gel electrophoresis on someone and explain your answer.

If someone wanted to find out the genes. Because gel electrophoresis lets scientists separate DNA fragments so they can study the strand and get the distance of the strands.

Relate and Review

Write at least 5 sentences summarizing the process of electrophoresis and relating to what you’ve learned before. 

Electrophoresis is the process in which people measure DNA. First, the gel is made, similar to a jello with many holes. Then, DNA samples are put into one end of the gel, and then electrical current is run through the gel to make the DNA molecules move. The longer strands will move slower, and be closer the the starting place. The shorter strands will move faster, and be further away from the starting place. To see the DNA, DNA staining solution is put on it, and then it can be viewed by normal eye with a ultraviolet light. Before, we learned about DNA, and how it's genes make who we are. Now, we know how to find the length of our DNA.