BME100 f2013:W1200 Group5 L4

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BME 100 Fall 2013 Home
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Lab Write-Up 1 | Lab Write-Up 2 | Lab Write-Up 3
Lab Write-Up 4 | Lab Write-Up 5 | Lab Write-Up 6
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OUR TEAM

Name: Dominick Cocciola
Role: Protocol Planning
Name: Hany Arafa
Role: Protocol Planning
Name: Wendy Gray
Role: Open PCR Machine Testing
Name: Kristina Roscher
Role: Research and Development
Name: Estefania Meza
Role: Open PCR Machine Testing

LAB 1 WRITE-UP

Initial Machine Testing

The Original Design

This is the PCR machine that we tested.

The Open PCR machine is a machine that uses heat cycles to replicate specific DNA strands. DNA is placed in PCR tubes, which are placed in the PCR block. The machine, which is hooked up to a computer, is programmed to cycle through different temperatures. The heated lid is set to 100°C and the machine is initially set to 95°C for three minutes. The machine then goes through 35 cycles of 95°C for 30 seconds (which splits the DNA into two strands), 57°C for 30 seconds (which is when primers bind to the target sequences and begin to replicate the strand) and then 72°C for 30 seconds (which by the end has created double the number of DNA strands each cycle started with). It is then set at 72°C for three minutes and then a final hold temperature of 4°C.


Experimenting With the Connections

When we unplugged the screen from the mother board, the screen on the machine turned off.

When we unplugged the white wire that connects the mother board to the PCR block, the temperature reading on the machine became incorrect and read that it was at -40°C.


Test Run

On October 23, 2013 we tested the Open PCR machine and found that it worked well. The temperatures fluctuated somewhat when it went through the heat cycles, but usually only by about .1°-.2°. There was somewhat of a lag between the readings on the machine and the readings on the computer as well. As for the timing of the cycles, the machine worked correctly and cycled through the temperatures at the correct time. We started at 12:55pm and at 1:40 pm our machine had gone through 15 cycles.




Protocols

Thermal Cycler Program

PCR Protocol:

The PCR machine begins by warming up to 100 degrees Celsius to begin the process. Then, the initial step takes place for three minutes at 95 degrees Celsius. This is done to heat up all the DNA strands, serving as a pre-denaturation step. Then the next three steps are repeated for a total of 35 cycles. The first step in this cycle is the denaturation cycle, and it is done at 95 degrees Celsius for 30 seconds. This is done to separate the double stranded DNA to single strands, forcing all reactions from enzymes to stop. The second step of the cycle is the annealing process, and it is done at 57 degrees Celsius for 30 seconds. This is when the polymerase attaches and begins to copy the DNA template. The last step of the cycle is the extending process, and it is done at 72 degrees Celsius for 30 seconds. This is when the polymerase couples to the primer on the 3' side, adding the bases that are complementary to the DNA template. The denaturation, annealing, and extension cycles are repeated for a total of 35 cycles. Then, the final step at 72 degrees Celsius for three minutes ensures that all the DNA goes through the extension process before the PCR machine cools down again. Finally, the PCR machine cools down to 4 degrees Celsius to ensure that all the single strands of DNA bond into double strands once again.

DNA Sample Set-up

Positive Control: Tube A Patient 1 ID:40197 Tube: A1 Patient 1 ID: 40197 Tube: A2 Patient 1 ID: 40197 Tube: A3
Negative Control Tube: J Patient 2 ID: 90029 Tube: J1 Patient 2 ID: 90029 Tube: J2 Patient 2 ID: 90029 Tube: J3


DNA Sample Set-up Procedure

  1. Step 1: Label each tube with its corresponding sample letter and number.
  2. Step 2: Pipette 50 μL of the PCR reaction mix into each of the six tubes.
  3. Step 3: Pipette 50 μL of the DNA/primer mix into each of the six tubes. Replace the micro-pipette tip after inserting the DNA in each tube to decrease the chances of sample contamination.
  4. Step 4: Insert each tube into the PCR thermocycler and run the program with same specifications as the one outlined in the "PCR Protocol".


PCR Reaction Mix

  • The PCR Reaction mix is 50 μL containing Taq DNA, MgCl2, and dNTP.


DNA/ primer mix

  • The DNA Primer mix is 50 μL containing a unique DNA template, and all have the same forward and reverse primer.





Research and Development

PCR - The Underlying Technology

(Add a write-up, essay-style, organized into paragrpahs with descriptive headers, based on the Q&A's from Section three of your worksheet)
Components of a PCR Reaction
A PCR reaction needs many components to synthesize a strand of DNA including, template DNA, primers, Taq Polymerase, Magnesium Chloride (MgCl2), and Deoxyribonucleotides. The template strand of DNA is the original strand of DNA that contains the target sequence that you wish to amplfy. DNA is made of up the nucleotides Adenine (A), Thymine(T), Cytosine (C), and Guanine(G) which pair in a A-T or C-G format. Primers are used to isolate the target target sequence because they can be customized to contain the compelentary base pairs (or nucleotides) of the sequence. They can effectively "seek out" the target sequence on both strands of the template DNA and bind, creating a starting point for synthesis.

PCR: The Process of Thermal Cycling


(BONUS points: Use a program like Powerpoint, Word, Illustrator, Microsoft Paint, etc. to illustrate how primers bind to the cancer DNA template, and how Taq polymerases amplify the DNA. Screen-captures from the PCR video/ tutorial might be useful. Be sure to credit the sources if you borrow images.)