In this module, students prepare and run an agarose gel that they use to separate DNA molecules of various sizes. Students stain the gels with ethidium bromide to visualize the positions of DNA molecules. Students estimate the sizes of separated DNA molecules by their migration distances relative to those of molecular weight standards. This module is part of a semester-long introductory lab class, Investigations in Molecular Cell Biology, at Boston College. 

Biology is designed for multi-semester biology courses for science majors. It is grounded on an evolutionary basis and includes exciting features that highlight careers in the biological sciences and everyday applications of the concepts at hand. To meet the needs of today’s instructors and students, some content has been strategically condensed while maintaining the overall scope and coverage of traditional texts for this course. Instructors can customize the book, adapting it to the approach that works best in their classroom. Biology also includes an innovative art program that incorporates critical thinking and clicker questions to help students understand—and apply—key concepts.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Describe gel electrophoresisExplain molecular and reproductive cloningDescribe uses of biotechnology in medicine and agriculture

In this 5 lesson set, students learn about the foraging behavior of bees and hypothesize if the bee’s behavior is related to its ability to detect sugar. Students will then determine which type of foraging bee would be best for pollination or honey production. Students will learn about the process of gel electrophoresis as a genetic tool and analyze DNA to identify strains of bees who are better pollen-collecting bees or better nectar-collecting bees.

Students are introduced to the latest imaging methods used to visualize molecular structures and the method of electrophoresis that is used to identify and compare genetic code (DNA). Students should already have basic knowledge of genetics, DNA (DNA structure, nucleotide bases), proteins and enzymes. The lesson begins with a discussion to motivate the need for imaging techniques and DNA analysis, which prepares students to participate in the associated two-part activity: 1) students each choose an imaging method to research (from a provided list of molecular imaging methods), 2) they research basic information about electrophoresis.

Students conduct their own research to discover and understand the methods designed by engineers and used by scientists to analyze or validate the molecular structure of DNA, proteins and enzymes, as well as basic information about gel electrophoresis and DNA identification. In this computer-based activity, students investigate particular molecular imaging technologies, such as x-ray, atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and create short PowerPoint presentations that address key points. The presentations include their own explanations of the difference between molecular imaging and gel electrophoresis.

This module introduces students to the theory and practice of sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). SDS-PAGE provides a simple method for separating proteins in complex mixtures by their molecular weights. At the end of this module, students will:understand the principles that govern protein separation on discontinuous SDS- PAGE gels.be able to cast and run SDS-PAGE gels.be able to analyze the pattern of bands in yeast cell extracts on a stained SDS-PAGE gel.be able to calculate the molecule weight of a protein from its migration on SDS-PAGE gels.This module is part of a semester-long introductory laboratory course, Investigations in Molecular Cell Biology, at Boston College.