The open PCR is a device that enables the splitting of DNA. It is run through many cycles of heating and cooling that enables the splitting and recombination with polomers. It connects to a computer program to run the cycles. The temperature change is controled by the heating lid and than the information is fed to the LED screen. The heating lid heats tubes that are held in the heat tube holder to the appropriate temperature and then cools them as needed in each cycle.
Experimenting With the Connections
When we unplugged part 3, the LCD, from part 6, the Open PCR Brains Board, the LCD on the machine stopped working and did not show anything on it.
When we unplugged the white wire that connects part 6, the Open PCR Brains Board, to part 2, the heat tube, the machine no longer measures the temperature of the plate and sends it to the LCD.
Test Run
First test run: 24 Oct. 2012
Experiences with it: It worked very well with minimal problems. The program would not allow us to enter the parameters once they were set. Aside form that, everything functioned with ease.
Protocols
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Polymerase Chain Reaction uses thermal cycling to artificially replicate DNA in vitro. First, a piece of double stranded DNA is added to a test tube containing a solution of primers, and the enzyme DNA polymerase. This solution is heated to 95 degrees celsius in order to separate (denature) the DNA molecule. Then, the solution is cooled to 57 degrees celsius and the primers bind to the single strands of DNA (provided the base sequences match up), then the solution is heated to 72 degrees celsius and DNA polymerase adds bases to complete the new complimentary strands, doubling the amount of DNA. This is repeated several times.
The Master Mix
GoTaq colorless Master Mix was used in this experiment. It contains taq polymerase, dNTPs(bases), MgCl2, and reaction buffers. Specifically, 2x colorless GoTaq master mix contains 400um of each base, and 3mm MgCl2 and a reaction buffer of pH 8.5. Part of this was then mixed with a few other ingredients as detailed in the table below. (information from www.promega.com)
Contents of PCR vials
Reagent Table
Volume
Template DNA (20 ng)
.2 μL
10 μM forward primer
1.0 μL
10 μM reverse primer
1.0 μL
GoTaq master mix
50.0 μL
dH2O
47.8 μL
Total Volume
100.0 μL
Flourimeter Measurements
(Add your work from Week 3, Part 2 here)
Fluorimeter setup
Instructions for opening images in imageJ
1. take a picture of the fluorimeter assembly with a smartphone.
2. transfer the picture to a laptop equipped with imageJ via icloud or email.
3. convert the file to a tiff.
4. click import in the imageJ options and select TIFF virtual stack.
5. find the image in the search box. and click on it.
6. The image is now open and can be analyzed.
Research and Development
Specific Cancer Marker Detection - The Underlying Technology
This report used the technique called DNA amplification.
(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 OpenPCR tutorial might be useful. Be sure to credit the source if you borrow images.)