The Original Design
(Add image of the full OpenPCR machine here, from the Week 9 exercise. Write a paragraph description for visitors who have no idea what this is)
Experimenting With the Connections
When we unplugged (part 3) from (part 6), the machine's screen turned off. When we plugged the cord back in , the screen turned back on. We believe this part supplies power to the screen.
When we unplugged the white wire that connects (part 6) to (part 2), the machine showed no noticeable change. However, we believe that the temperature controls will not work when the white wire is disconnected.
Test Run
(Write the date you first tested Open PCR and your experience(s) with the machine)
Protocols
Thermal Cycler Program
DNA Sample Set-up
row 1 cell 1
row 1 cell 2
row 1 cell 3
row 1 cell 4
row 2 cell 1
row 2 cell 2
row 2 cell 3
row 2 cell 4
DNA Sample Set-up Procedure
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3...
PCR Reaction Mix
What is in the PCR reaction mix?
DNA/ primer mix
What is in the DNA/ primer mix?
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)
(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.)
What is the function of each component of a PCR reaction?
The template DNA is the strand of DNA that is used to create a complementary strand. This DNA strand is used to double to amount of DNA per cycle. After the DNA is placed in the test tube, the primers are added. Since the primers have any sequence of nucleotides desired, they can then attach to sites on the DNA strands that are at either end of the segment you want to copy. The primers are powerful for copying specific DNA sequences since there is no chance they will target the wrong site. After the primers are added, the Taq DNA polymerase is added to the test tube. Taq polymerase functions to copy a cell's DNA before it divides into two seperate strands. When Taq polymerase reaches a primer that's base paired with a longer piece of DNA, it attaches itself and starts adding primers. MgCl2 is required fro Taq polymerase to function effectively. When th enzyme polymerase binds to the DNA strand, it requires Mg+ ions with OH- groups to remove a hydrogen proton from the deoxyribose of th enucleotide in order to add the next nucleotide. The deoxyribonucleotides (dNTP's) are then added. The dNTP's are single units of the bases A,T,G,and C. These bases are then used as genetic building blocks to create billions of DNA copies.
BME 100 Fall 2013
