Ticks and Lyme Disease
Activity Summary
Students will go through a computer-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by a gel-electrophoresis computer simulation. Students will load practice gels in order to gain micropipetting skills. Students will view the results of a gel electrophoresis DNA from DNA they extracted in a previous lab (Tick DNA Extraction), or an example photo of a gel will work (example is included in the PowerPoint). Students will determine which DNA bands were genetically similar based on the gel photo.
Grade Levels
9-12
Learning Objectives
1. List the steps of PCR along with their significance
2. Load gels correctly
3. Draw conclusions based on DNA bands as to which DNA bands were genetically similar
Lesson Materials (view or download)
PowerPoint
Lesson Plans
Teacher prep video: Micropipetting
Teacher prep video: Preparing DNA samples
Teacher prep video: Pouring a DNA gel
Teacher prep video: Running a DNA gel
Keywords
Deoxyribonucleic acid, gel electrophoresis
Last updated: 6/19/2015