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The Arizona Hedgehog
Cactus:
Endangered Species or not?
Lesson 7: Pour and Load Agarose
Gels
Purpose:
Students will gain experience in actually pouring an agarose
gel and loading the DNA into the wells to perform a genetic analysis
of variation among individuals and between populations.
Time:
One 90-minute class period or two 50-60 minute periods
Materials Preparation:
- 100X electrophoresis buffer stock
- Deionized water
- 100 ml and 1000 ml graduated cylinders
- Methylene blue or ethidium bromide dye
- Centrigram balance
- Agarose
- Large test tubes
- Casting trays with combs (and glass plates if necessary)
- Masking tape
- Plastic pipets
- Boiling water bath
Student Objective(s):
- Prepare and pour an agarose gel.
- Load DNA samples into the wells of the gel.
Lesson Plan:
- Students follow the instructions contained in the hand-out "Electrophoresis
Protocols" to prepare and pour one agarose gel per group of 3-4
students.
- Give each student a sample of amplified DNA from one individual
plant from the Cochise county population or the Pinal county population.
Each student will load his/her DNA sample into one of the wells
in the gel.
- Explain that after all DNA has been loaded onto the gel, the electric
current will be turned on and the DNA will be electrophoresed through
the gel overnight. When finished, the gels will be placed in the
methylene blue or ethidium bromide dye to stain the DNA bands within
the gel.
Supplemental Materials:
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