pGLO Lab Analysis

pGLO Observations , Data Recording & Analysis

1.

Obtain your team plates.  Observe your set of  “+pGLO” plates under room light and with UV light.  Record numbers of colonies and color of colonies. Fill in the table below. Plate Number of Colonies Color of colonies under room light Color of colonies under   UV light - pGLO LB Lawn White None - pGLO LB/amp 0 + pGLO LB/amp 6 White Purple White + pGLO LB/amp/ara 2 and Satellite Colonies White Green White

2.	What two new traits do your transformed bacteria have?
	The two traits that the transformed bacteria have are resistance to the antibiotic ampicillin, and the inclusion of the GFP gene in the bacteria.
3.	Estimate how many bacteria were in the 100 uL of bacteria that you spread on each plate. Explain your logic.
	We estimate that there were around 5000 - 10000 bacteria since their were about 15 bacteria colonies in every unit, and those have a multitude of bacteria, and because many bacteria died due to the ampicillin, there are approximately that many bacteria at the beginning of the lab.
4.	What is the role of arabinose in the plates?
	The arabinose is a promoter for the GFP gene, and it is needed in order for the RNA polymercase to be allowed to read the GFP gene and express it.
5.	List and briefly explain three current uses for GFP (green fluorescent protein) in research or applied science.
	It is used in many animals alongside another resistance gene to test whether it has actually entered the organism and is active inside of it. It can be used to track organisms since they glow under UV lights and can properly be used to check where they are in a contained environment. It is used in monkeys to track the entrance of diseases into the monkeys brains can better help these diseases be studied.
6.	Give an example of another application of genetic engineering.

Another example of genetic engineering is the introduction of pest resistant genes into plants in order for them to better grow in impoverished areas and to yield better crop results.