In this lesson you will be introduced to various critical DNA technologies that are currently used by molecular biologist to manipulate DNA.
By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
- explain in detail how DNA is amplified using the Polymerase Chain Reaction Method.
- describe how DNA and proteins are analyzed using Gel electrophoresis
- describe in detail how the nucleotide sequence of a DNA strand is determined using the dideoxy chain termination method developed by Sanger
- define totipotency, pluripotency, stem cell, nuclear transplantation, gel electrophoresis, PCR.
- explain how organismal (whole organism) cloning was accomplished for a frog, the lamb Dolly and Copy Cat (CC cat) using diagrams and narratives.
- explain why stem cells are used for cloning.
- compare embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells
- explain why embryonic stem cells are totipotent while adul stem cell are pluripotent using an example.
Let’s start by examining how DNA is amplified using the PCR method and is analyzed using gel electrophoresis.
The following video lesson illustrates in detail the dideoxy termination method used to determine the nucleotide sequence of DNA fragments. Watch it and take notes.
The video lesson below will introduce you to the cloning of whole organisms (organismal cloning), nuclear transplantation and stem cell research. Please watch the lesson below and take detailed notes.