$240.43

Includes instructions, E. coli-pUC 18, nutrient agar-ampicillin, ampicillin, petri dishes, inoculating loops, ampicillin-resistance gene primers, rDNA primers, sterile pipet tips, PCR buffer,Taq polymerase, Taq dilution buffer, nucleotides, DNA size markers, electrophoresis sample buffer, mineral oil, and PCR tubes.

Description

Purified DNA is most often used as a template in the PCR reaction. However, it is possible to amplify specific DNA sequences without DNA purification by starting with a single living E. coli colony. This technique is known as colony PCR and provides a powerful and reliable method for the rapid amplification and isolation of any gene in the E.coli genome or any gene on a plasmid that is carried by E.coli. In this exercise, students carry out colony PCR starting with a culture of E. coli that carries an ampicillin-resistance gene on plasmid pUC18. They first streak the cells over an nutrient agar plate in order to produce single E.coli colonies. These colonies are then used directly as templates in a PCR reaction in order to amplify a segment of the 16 S -ribosomal RNA genes which is located on the E. coli chromosome and a segment of the ampicillin-resistance gene on the plasmid. Sufficient materials are provided so that 8 groups of students can perform the experiment with each group amplifying the ribosomal RNA gene, the ampicillin-resistance gene or both genes.

Requirements

A DNA Thermal Cycler, electrophoresis equipment and Electrophoresis Package 3/4 or equivalent are needed but not included.