Second Quarter Activities for Biotechniques

PLANT PRESS

Materials:
Two pcs of plywood, 30cm X 30cm X 1cm
Rubber straps from old bicycle or motorcycle interior tubes

Procedure:
1. Cut the pieces of wood to size.
2. Cut the rubber straps from old interior tires of bicycles or motorcycles.

Illustration:

Notes:
1. Place the plant between several layers of newspapers between the press plates. Wrap the rubber straps around the plates and newspapers to hold them securely.
2. Ropes or heavy strings may be used instead of the rubber straps.

FLOWER MOUNTING

BOTTLE AQUARIUM

Example of bottle aquarium:

BOTTLE TERRARIUM

Examples of bottled terrarium:

Credits to the owners of the pics.

Activity for Biotechniques: Measuring Pollen Size Using a Razor Blade Scores Scale and Microscope

One technique used to determine the size of objects under the microscope is to compare it to an external standard as a razor score scale. This however, is made possible only on straight body tube, monocular microscopes.

OBJECTIVES:
1. To describe pollen grains seen under the microscope.
2. To determine how many times a pollen is magnified under the HPO of the microscope.
3. To illustrate pollen grains as seen under the HPO of the microscope.
4. To measure the size of pollen grains under the microscope using the razor blade scores scale.

MATERIALS:
glass slides
compound microscope
dissecting needle
razor blade scores scale
flowers with pollen grains

PROCEDURE:
1. Dust off some pollen on the surface of the glass slide.

2. Observe under the LPO of the microscope.

Q1. Describe the pollen grains.

3. Then shift to the HPO.
Q2. How many times have these pollen grains been magnified?
Q3. Draw 2 or 3 pollen grains as seen under the HPO. Indicate the magnification.

4. Ussing the dissecting needle, transfer dew pollen grains directly over the razor glade scores scale.

5. Observe the pollen grains under the LPO.
Q4. Describe what you have observed.
Q5. Make an estimated of the size of the specific pollen you are observing.
Q6. If four pollen grains can fit in one scale, What is its estimated size.

Activity for Biotechniques: Making a Razor Blade Scores Scale

In this activity, you will make a scale to measure sizes of objects seen under the microscope.

OBJECTIVES:
1. To use the HPO of the microscope in checking score made by razor blades on TP.
2. To describe the steps in making a razor blade score scale.

MATERIALS:
glass slides
Rubber band transparent tape
razor blades transparency sheet (TP)
Cutting mat or chopping board
scissors / cutter

PROCEDURE
1. Bundle 5 razor blades with rubber band.
2. Place the TP sheet on a cutting mat or chopping board to make scores on the TP sheet with one stroke of the bundle razor blades.
3. Cut out the scored TP sheet about the size of a cover slip.
4. Tape on the sides the scored TP sheet to a glass slide.
5. View under the LPO of the microscope.
6. Are the four spaces even or equidistant to one another? if not repeat 2-4 until you have an equidistant scored sheet.
7. You may have a razor blade scores scale. You will scale in activity.

Proper Handling of Lab. Apparatus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mGYahQf5rI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73Tl3aL2i1Y

DNA History

Discovery of the DNA structure

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VegLVn_1oCE

DNA Structure and Function

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLGGid17Wno

Molecular Genetics - Central Dogma

DNA Replication

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdDkiRw1PdU

Transcription
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtYz_3rkvPk

Translation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6O6uRb1D38&list=PL60C69E2C64C29289

Microbes Used in Biotech

Techniques

·         Microbes are tools used in many basic biotechnology procedures. For example, when scientists want to clone or make copies of genes, they will typically introduce the genes into lab strains of E. coli. Likewise, if they wish to produce large amounts of an isolated protein for analysis or medical treatment, they will introduce the gene for that protein into bacteria. Some bacteria even serve as vectors for introducing a gene of interest into plants. For example, when genetically engineering crops, biotech scientists often use Agrobacterium tumefaciens to insert genes into the plant cells' genomes. Viruses are simpler than bacteria but tremendously useful as well. Scientists use viruses when they want to introduce a gene into an animal cell. Moreover, viruses potentially offer a way to conduct gene therapy or replace a defective copy of a patient's gene with a functional one.

Potential

·         Microbes are more than just handy tools for the biotech industry. They also serve as platforms for better technology. The field of red biotechnology seeks to develop new drugs to treat disease. Some of these drugs are proteins that are produced by bacteria. The field of white biotechnology seeks new sources for industrial materials. For example, specially tailored microbes are used to help produce valuable chemicals. The field of green biotechnology works to improve crops, sometimes by inserting genes taken from microbes (as in the case of Bt cotton). Finally, black biotechnology works to invent new sources of fuel--many of which involve microbes. Specially designed bacteria or genetically altered algae, for example, are possible sources of fuel that could help to replace oil in the future.

Common Bacteria in Biotech

·         Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the best-known and most useful microbe in the field of biotechnology. While many people connect the name E. coli with food poisoning, it is important to remember that E. coli is a normal inhabitant of the human intestine. Although certain strains of E. coli are pathogenic and cause illness, most strains do not. Moreover, the strains generally used in laboratories have already been altered or selected for desirable characteristics. Another famous bacterium that is often used in biotechnology is Agrobacterium tumefaciens--a bacterium that in nature causes a disease called crown gall. The same attribute that makes this bacterium a disease of plants--its ability to insert its genetic material into the cells of its host plant--makes it useful to biotechnology researchers.

Common Algae and Viruses in Biotech

·         Although researchers in the field of black biotechnology are working with many different strains of algae, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is perhaps the most popular algae in biotech and biology labs today. Because it is relatively simple to culture, it is useful in a wide variety of experiments. Popular viruses in biotechnology and biomedical research include retroviruses like HIV, which incorporate their genetic material into their host cells' genomes; adenoviruses, which cause respiratory tract infections but may also be useful as gene therapy vectors; and phages (viruses that infect bacteria), which are useful in a variety of molecular biology techniques.

Credits to the owner**