DNA Fingerprinting Lab Assignment (disregard what it says on the hand-out about the write up!)

This is what I would like you to do for the DNA Fingerprinting Lab:

Write an argument as if you are the forensic expert for the prosecution or defense of a criminal trial in which there is Crime Scene DNA and DNA from 3 suspects.  Your argument will include the following:

1. Background of DNA Fingerprinting, including some of the history and the principles by which it works (write this in your own words!)
2. A discussion of the results, using numbers and comparison between bands and samples.  This should be thorough and not just a vague statement or two.  If your data is not good enough to use, you can use another group's gel (say whose it is).
3. A discussion of the sources of uncertainty in this lab and how they may or may not have impacted the results.

You can be creative and invent a crime and story behind the various suspects.  Your argument will be turned in through turnitin.com and should be in by Tuesday 5/8, although I encourage you to write it earlier to help you review for the test!  It can certainly be turned in early!

End of April/Early May

• Friday 4/20:  Finish notes on genetic modification and go over clones.  Micropipetting practice.  Hand out DNA Fingerprinting Lab and read it!
• Tues 4/24:  First part of DNA Fingerprinting Lab.  Add enzyme to the 4 DNA samples and let them incubate for an hour.  While they incubate, finish the Restriction Enzyme Worksheet and get it checked off, do the DBQ on monarch butterflies on p. 195, work on your Enzyme Lab, and then start going over the Enzyme and Biotech Review Sheet on my website.
• Thurs 4/26:  Enzyme Lab due through turnitin.com by 11:59 pm tonight (but don't stay up until then to submit it!).  Typically I don't take much off for labs that are a little late.  Day 2 of the DNA Fingerprinting Lab.  Add dye to your samples and then load them into the gels!  When finished, complete the DBQ on p. 195 and get checked off, go over the Enzyme and Biotech review, etc.  When everyone has their gels loaded, we will review the topics of Biotech and some of the ethical issues.
• Mon 4/30:  Look at your gels under the UV light and take a photo.  Analyze the resulting lines and try to determine which suspect was at the crime scene!  We will discuss the write up for this lab.  Do DBQ on page 353 (you can skip b and d)
• Wed 5/2:  Finish checking off DBQ on p. 353.  Work on DNA Fingerprinting Lab.  Review enzymes and biotech.  Kahoot review.  Start Plants!
• Fri 5/4:  Take Enzyme and Biotechnology Test.  Structure of leaf tissue and transpiration.  Read 9.1.

Boston Children's Hospital Virtual Stem Cell Laboratory

This assignment is to be done in pairs.  Follow the simulation and write your answers on a separate sheet of paper that you can turn in.  Remember to put both of your names on it!

1. Go to the Boston Children's Hospital Virtual Stem Cell Laboratory (linked on my website)
2. Read the Introduction and about Embryonic Stem Cells
3. Start the simulation by choosing a coaxing agent (one of the 5 colors).  If that coaxing agent works in the ES cells, you will see movement along a pathway.  If not, try a different coaxing agent until you get some movement.
4. Write down the coaxing agent that you chose and what new cell type you went to.  Read about that cell type.
5. Continue with the coaxing agents until you reach the end of a pathway.  Write down the ending stem cell and what it can be used to treat.
6. Start over with a whole new pathway (or just back up one step to get to another), writing down the coaxing agents and products as you did above.
7. Repeat this process for 5 different complete pathways.
8. Summarize what you learned about embryonic development and how these early cells can be used to treat different disorders.
9. If time:  Discuss the ethical pros and cons of using embryonic stem cells for treating patients and write down 2 pros and 2 cons.

First 2.5 Weeks of April

• Tues 4/3:  Check off Enzyme Worksheet and go over.  Finish enzyme notes.  Introduce Enzyme Lab and try first protocol.  Read 2.5 and 8.1 if not already.
• Thurs 4/5:  Do last 2 protocols for Enzyme Lab and decide what protocol and which independent variable (pH, temperature, or substrate concentration) your group wants to manipulate.  Start working on pre-write (each individual!).  Blind taste test of regular and lactose-free milk.  Complete focused question, background, variables, procedure and data table before you take come in to take data next Monday!  See lab guidelines document to help.
• Mon 4/9:  Get pre-write for Enzyme Lab checked off.  Carefully and efficiently take data.  Everyone should record data and observations.  When finished, clean up and start processing your data.  
• Wed 4/11:  Discuss lab write-up and take some time to work on data-processing and/or conclusion/evaluation.  Introduce Biotech topics and take some notes on stem cells.  Boston Children's Hospital Stem Cell Activity.   Read 3.5.
• Fri 4/13:  No School.  Teacher work day for the end of 3rd Quarter.
• Mon 4/16: Go over Evaluation for Enzyme Lab.  Finish Stem Cell Simulation and more work on Enzyme Lab.   PCR and introduce gel electrophoresis technique.   First draft of Enzyme Lab due Wed for peer review.
• Wed 4/18:  Peer review of Enzyme Lab.  Final draft due Thurs 4/26 through turnitin.com.  Micropipetting practice.