Learning Gene Therapy through a Bacterial Transformation Lab

KRISTEN KOPFELK GROVE H.S.

RET 2010 TEACHING MODULEUNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO

DECEMBER 4 , 2010

Learning Gene Therapy through a Bacterial Transformation Lab

Inspiration for Unit

Summer research included techniques used for gene therapy

Bacterial Transformation

Techniques are possible in a high school labUnit reflects current and exciting prospects

in science technology

Target Student Population

Students in 9th and 10th grades taking BiologyAverage students

Current ACT score 16-19 6th grade – 9th grade reading levels

Includes at-risk and English-language learners

Students have already learned about DNA and protein synthesis

Unit Objectives

Describe how we can change an organism’s traits

Explain the uses for and limitations of gene therapy

Explain the purpose of the laboratory steps for gene therapy

Describe what is meant by the term “transformed organism”

Read and follow a lab procedureIdentify a control in an experiment

Activities

Gene Therapy WebquestUnit Overview PictureBacterial Transformation PowerPointBacterial Transformation IntroductionBacterial Transformation LabLab Quiz

Gene Therapy Webquest

Webquest created by the University of Utah

Students will learn… Definition of gene therapy Compare and contrast vectors used in gene therapy Practice reading for information

Unit Overview Picture

Illustrates the major steps necessary for gene therapy

How do we isolate the gene? How do we get the gene into the cell? How do we get the cell to express the protein?

For practice, cut up the stages and have students place them in order

Bacterial Transformation PowerPoint

Goes more in depth into the laboratory steps necessary for gene therapy

Restriction Enzymes PCR Gel Electrophoresis Transform Bacteria Induce protein expression

Students take Cornell style notes

Lab Introduction

Students complete a reading and questions to discover:

Definition of transformed organisms Purpose of an experimental control How we can give organisms a new phenotype How we will induce the expression of the pBlu gene to

turn the bacteria from white to blue

Bacterial Transformation Lab

Cost = $109 for a kit with 8 stations Carolina Biological

Students transform bacteria to change their appearance from white to blue

Focus is on following a lab procedure Storyboard

Lab Quiz

Focuses on why students completed certain steps in the lab procedure

Example: Heat shock

Students must analyze plates and determine the control

Anticipated Outcomes

Increase in student engagement “Feel like real scientists”

Connection to past conceptsReinforcement of lab technique and data

analysis

Acknowledgements

RET 2010 Program NSF Grant #CBET EEC-0743068, NIH R01 NS055095, and R03 EY014357 (RAG).

The summer research was conducted in a facility constructed with support from Research Facilities Improvement Program Grant Number C06 RR15482 from the National Center for Research Resources, NIH.

Dr. Richard Gemeinhart, Research MentorDr. Andreas Linninger, Program DirectorStaff at Elk Grove High SchoolUniversity of Utah for the gene therapy webquest