Skip to main content

Molecular Biology of Nucleic Acids (S3)

This outstanding program provides a solid foundation in the molecular biology of DNA. Your students will investigate such contemporary topics as restriction nuclease mapping, the complexity of the prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes and the nucleosome structure of the chromosome. The studies on plasmid amplification using recombinant DNA techniques enable students to conduct the same procedures that form the basis of the biotechnology industry.

Individual Experiments
Each of the individual experiments is supplied with the chemicals and laboratory guides needed for 16 students working in pairs. If you chose one or more of the experiments below, you should also order Electrophoresis Package 3/4. Electrophoresis Package 3/4 provides sufficient agarose, gel stains and electrophoresis buffers for up to 6 of the individual experiments in this series. The package also includes the dye for rapid DNA staining during electrophoresis.
Electrophoresis Package 3/4 is also suitable for the experiments in Standard Laboratory Programs 4 and 10 as well as a majority of our IND series.

EXP-301 301. The Length of DNA Molecules (View Individual Experiment)

Electrophoresis in agarose gels is the most common method used for determining the size of DNA molecules. In this introductory exercise, students determine the length of an unknown DNA molecule by comparing its electrophoretic mobility with six DNA molecules of known size as shown.

EXP-302 302. Restriction Nuclease Mapping of DNA (View Individual Experiment)

Bacteriophage lambda is a DNA virus that attacks E. coli. Here, students dissect lambda DNA using the restriction endonucleases EcoR1 and BamH1 in order to identify specific sites, sequences, and structures along the phage genome. This single exercise enables students to explore a number of exciting topics in molecular biology, including the specificity of restriction endonucleases, DNA mapping strategies, complementary base-pairing of DNA, and the structure of a viral genome.

DNA STAINING PROCEDURE

EXP-303 303. Plasmid DNA Structure (View Individual Experiment)

Plasmids are small circular DNA molecules found in most bacteria. A plasmid can exist in different structural states and these states can be distinguished by their migration on agarose gels. In this experiment, students study these structures using enzymes and electrophoresis and show that the structures are interconvertible. This exercise provides an introduction to higher-order DNA structure which is thought to be important in the control of transcription and replication in bacteria and, perhaps, in higher organisms as well.

EXP-304 304. Molecular Cloning (View Individual Experiment)

This two part exercise provides state-of-the-art information and practical experience with a variety of techniques that form the foundation of the biotechnology industry. In part A, students create a strain of E. coli that is resistant to the antibiotic ampicillin by introducing a plasmid that contains an ampicillin-resistance gene. The success of the transformation is monitored by growing the bacteria on an ampicillin-containing media. This experiment provides sufficient sterile materials for sixteen platings.

EXP-305 305. Identifying Satellite Sequences (View Individual Experiment)

A large fraction of the DNA of vertebrates consists of nucleotide sequences that are repeated thousands or more times in the genome. Satellite sequences are a major class of these repeated elements and these sequences are found in most eukaryotic organisms. There are about 1 million cutting sites for the restriction enzyme EcoRI in the typical vertebrate genome and about 1 million DNA fragments are generated following digestion of vertebrate DNA with this enzyme.

EXP-306 306. The Nucleosome Structure of Chromatin (View Individual Experiment)

The primary level of chromosome structure in eukaryotes occurs when the DNA molecule is wrapped around histone proteins into particles called nucleosomes. Evidence for this "beads on a string" model is derived from nuclease digestion studies. When nuclei are incubated with micrococcal nuclease, the enzyme cleaves the linker DNA between nucleosomes (the string) but not the nucleosomal core DNA (the beads).

Prices

Catalog # Price Description
S3 299.01

The Chemical Package for 16 students working in pairs plus 17 student manuals and one instructor manual
S3-C 230.14

Standard Program 3
S3-SM 9.61

Sample Student Manual (62 pages) plus one instructor manual