Biotechnology Scotland Project

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Biotechnology Scotland Project
5 14 Biotechnology Trial Materials
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Improving Science Education 5-14
Planning framework - Unit 32 Biotechnology

• respiration
• give the main distinguishing features of
  microorganisms
• describe the harmful and beneficial role of
  microorganisms
• explain the role of chromosomes and genes in
  inheritance
• outline the principles of modern biotechnology
  and explain its significance now and for the
  future

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Main distinguishing features of micro-organisms

• Size very small, use microscope
• Reproduction can be very rapid given
  appropriate conditions
• Ubiquitous found everywhere

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Looking at Micro-organisms Types Size -
Microscopy

• Hanging drop preparation
• Algae
• Protozoa

• Wet preparation
• Yeast

• Prepared slides/photographs
• Bacteria
• Viruses

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Working with Micro-organisms Health Safety
Considerations

• COSHH Regulations Safety
• Code of Practice

• Microbiology Techniques
• Microbiology techniques Cards
• Micro Safety and Techniques CD-Rom from SSERC

• Training required to level 3
• Contact SSERC in 1st instance

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Growing Micro-organisms - effect of temperature
Inoculate plates with yeast
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Growing Micro-organisms - where are they found?
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Harmful Helpful Effects of Micro-organisms
Baddies and Buddies

• Harmful Effects
• Food spoilage bread moulds
• Food poisoning - hygiene
• Other diseases - antifungals

• Helpful Effects
• Food manufacture dough race
• Decomposition compost column

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Harmful Micro-organisms - bread mould
investigation

• Use different types of bread
• White
• Brown
• Organic
• Non-organic
• Long-life

Use double self-seal plastic bags Leave at room
temperature Observe appearance and progression of
mould growth
Do not open Autoclave on completion of
investigation
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Harmful Micro-organisms - effect of cleaning
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Harmful Micro-organisms - antifungals
Tape plates closed, do not re-open Autoclave on
completion
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Helpful Micro-organisms - dough race
Greater respiration in 3 causes greater CO2
production and dough to rise further
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Role of chromosomes genes in Inheritance

• Extraction of DNA
• Fruit Full of DNA

• Electrophoresis
• Wizard genes

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Role of chromosomes genes - fruit Full of DNA

• Keep materials cool where indicated
• Squash fruit in plastic bag to mechanically break
  up cells
• Add washing up liquid, salt and heat to 60?C for
  15 min to disrupt cellular membranes
• Filter to remove cell debris
• Precipitate by adding cold methanol

DNA appears as white strands in methanol
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Role of chromosomes genes - Wizard DNA Gel
Electrophoresis

• Gel Electrophoresis
• negative charge on molecules
• gel is porous
• molecules travel through gel according to size
  when electrical current applied
• smaller molecules travel faster

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Role of chromosomes genes - Wizard DNA
Electrophoresis
Electrophoresis of a mixture of food dyes

• Importance of gel electrophoresis
• Gene identification, manipulation and sequencing
• Forensics, paternity cases

Practical introduces the idea of separating
mixtures and using bands to assist in
identification