Difference between revisions of "20.109(F11): Mod 1 Day 1 DNA engineering using PCR"
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==Introduction== | ==Introduction== | ||
− | As you heard about in lecture, | + | As you heard about in lecture, we ll be starting a project to study homologous recombination. For basic information on homologous recombination, please obtain the excellent review by Thomas Helleday from the References section of the [http://openwetware.org/wiki/20.109%28F11%29:Module_1 Module 1 frontpage]. <font color = 9900CC>Be sure to check out the animations made by Justin Lo, a class of '08 Course 20 student and a former UROP student in Professor Engelward's laboratory!</font color> We'll begin these experiments with a plasmid construction project, schematically shown in the figure labelled "Experiment roadmap." [[Image:Be109DNAengineeringbyPCRroadmap2.jpg|thumb|left|300px|'''Experiment roadmap''']] |
− | By performing this plasmid construction, | + | By performing this plasmid construction, you ll be learning some fundamental tools and techniques of molecular biology. One major goal we have for this module is to establish good habits for documentation of your work. By documenting your work according to the exercises done today, you will |
*Be better research students (in 20.109 as well as any research lab you may join) | *Be better research students (in 20.109 as well as any research lab you may join) | ||
− | *Be better writers since a clear record of what | + | *Be better writers since a clear record of what you ve done will improve your data analysis |
− | *Be better scientists, since | + | *Be better scientists, since you ll eventually train others to document things this way too |
===PCR "primer"=== | ===PCR "primer"=== | ||
To begin your recombination study you will be performing a protocol called the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The applications of PCR are widespread, from forensics to molecular biology to evolution, but the goal of any PCR is the same: to generate many copies of DNA from a few. In 1984, Kary Mullis described this technique | To begin your recombination study you will be performing a protocol called the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The applications of PCR are widespread, from forensics to molecular biology to evolution, but the goal of any PCR is the same: to generate many copies of DNA from a few. In 1984, Kary Mullis described this technique | ||
− | for amplifying DNA of known or unknown sequence (called the | + | for amplifying DNA of known or unknown sequence (called the |