Ch 25: AP Biology - Basic Molecular Biology Laboratory Techniques: Tutoring Solution
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Learning Objectives
- Define genetic engineering.
- Describe the function of restriction enzymes.
- Explain how recombinant DNA is engineered through the use of ligase.
- Learn how to analyze the results of agarose gel electrophoresis.
- Discuss the process of bacterial transformation.
- List the steps of the polymerase chain reaction.
- Explore the Sanger method of DNA sequencing.

1. What is Genetic Engineering? - Definition and Examples
How do we make the insulin used by diabetic patients? In this lesson, you'll learn the basics of how genetic engineering can be used to transform a bacterial host cell into a genetically-modified organism that produces human insulin.

2. What is a DNA Plasmid? - Importance to Genetic Engineering
DNA plasmids play an integral part in most genetic engineering experiments. In this lesson, you'll learn about key features of a plasmid, such as a multiple cloning site, an origin of replication, and a selectable marker.

3. Restriction Enzymes: Function and Definition
Restriction enzymes played a critical role in the advent of genetic engineering. In this lesson, you will learn what role restriction enzymes play in creating recombinant DNA.

4. How Ligase is Used to Engineer Recombinant DNA
DNA ligase makes recombinant DNA technology possible. In this lesson, you will learn how new versions of genes can be designed for experiments in novel host organisms using DNA ligase.

5. What is Agarose Gel Electrophoresis?
Agarose gel electrophoresis plays a key role in genetic engineering experiments. In this lesson, you'll learn what agarose is and how electrophoresis works. You'll also discover the use of agarose in this procedure.

6. Ethidium Bromide, Loading Buffer & DNA Ladder: Visualizing DNA and Determining its Size
In this lesson, you will learn about the role that ethidium bromide, loading buffers, and DNA ladders play in visualizing DNA and determining the size of DNA fragments in agarose gel electrophoresis.

7. Agarose Gel Electrophoresis: Equipment & Procedure
This lesson will review the concepts and mechanisms of agarose gel electrophoresis. It will also summarize the equipment needed to perform the procedure for DNA analysis.

8. Agarose Gel Electrophoresis: Results Analysis
Gel electrophoresis is used to analyze DNA restriction digest and ligation experiments. In this lesson, you will learn how to use a DNA ladder to interpret experimental results.

9. Bacterial Transformation: Definition, Process and Genetic Engineering of E. coli
How can a plasmid be inserted into a bacterial cell? How can transformed bacteria carrying a recombinant plasmid be distinguished from untransformed counterparts? These questions and more will be answered in this lesson.

10. Bacterial Transformation: Antibiotic Selection and Positive & Negative Controls
The use of antibiotic selection and positive and negative controls are important elements of interpreting data from a bacterial transformation. In this lesson, you will learn how antibiotic selection results in colony formation and how controls help pinpoint the cause of experimental problems.

11. PCR: Reagents Used in Polymerase Chain Reaction
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a biotechnology technique that is used to amplify pieces of DNA. In this lesson, you will learn about five ingredients necessary to perform PCR: template DNA, nucleotides, primers, buffer and Taq polymerase.

12. PCR: Steps Involved in Polymerase Chain Reaction
In this lesson, you will learn about the steps required to amplify DNA during PCR. The lesson will explain the role template DNA, primers, nucleotides, Taq polymerase and PCR buffer play in the denaturation, annealing and extension steps of PCR.

13. The Sanger Method of DNA Sequencing
The ability to determine the DNA sequence of an individual is a powerful tool for paternity questions and criminal investigations, among other uses. This lesson will describe one laboratory method that can be used to sequence DNA.

14. Carrying Capacity of a Population: Definition & Explanation
As population size increases, so does the demand for resources. Carrying capacity helps define the appropriate size of a population based on its environment. The availability of resources has a direct effect on how quickly and how large a population can grow.

15. Positive Control: Definition & Experiment
A positive control is a part of good experimental design. A positive control receives a treatment with a known response, so that this positive response can be compared to the unknown response of the treatment.

16. The Transforming Principle: Definition & Explanation
Bacteria aren't above cannibalism. Discover how one bacterium can 'eat' another's genetic material - and how this freakish behavior led to the discovery of DNA.

17. The Ethics of Genetic Engineering
In this lesson, you're going to learn about the ethics of genetic engineering. We will review two hotly debated examples, GMO crops and 'designer' babies, and their potential benefits and dangers to society.
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Other Chapters
Other chapters within the AP Biology: Tutoring Solution course
- AP Biology - Science Basics: Tutoring Solution
- AP Biology - The Origin of Life on Earth: Tutoring Solution
- AP Biology - Evolution: Tutoring Solution
- AP Biology - Inorganic Chemistry: Tutoring Solution
- AP Biology - Organic Chemistry: Tutoring Solution
- AP Biology - Enzymatic Biochemistry: Tutoring Solution
- AP Biology - Cell Biology: Tutoring Solution
- AP Biology - Requirements of Biological Systems: Tutoring Solution
- AP Biology - Cell Division: Tutoring Solution
- AP Biology - Metabolic Biochemistry: Tutoring Solution
- AP Biology - DNA and RNA: Tutoring Solution
- AP Biology - DNA Replication: Tutoring Solution
- AP Biology - Transcription and Translation: Tutoring Solution
- AP Biology - Genetics and Heredity: Tutoring Solution
- AP Biology - Genetic Mutations: Tutoring Solution
- AP Biology - Phylogeny and the Classification of Organisms: Tutoring Solution
- AP Biology - Plant Biology: Tutoring Solution
- AP Biology - Plant Reproduction and Growth: Tutoring Solution
- AP Biology - Animal Reproduction and Development: Tutoring Solution
- AP Biology - Anatomy and Physiology of Reproductive Systems: Tutoring Solution
- AP Biology - The Circulatory, Respiratory, Digestive, Excretory, and Musculoskeletal Systems: Tutoring Solution
- AP Biology - The Nervous, Immune, and Endocrine Systems: Tutoring Solution
- AP Biology - Ecology: Tutoring Solution
- AP Biology - Animal Behavior: Tutoring Solution
- AP Biology - Laboratory: Tutoring Solution
- AP Biology - Analyzing Scientific Data: Tutoring Solution