A Practical Polymerase Chain Reaction Laboratory for Introductory Biology Classes

Bowlus, R. David; Grether, Susan C.

doi:10.2307/4450109

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Many researchers [1][2][3] have described the use of PCR methodology in exploratory student laboratory exercises, arguing that it allows the students to generate their own meaningful data for the analysis and also provides them with essential laboratory skills in the modern laboratory methods. The positive laboratory experience will clearly show how such methods can be applied to their daily lives, and it may also stimulate some students to continue their education in molecular biology.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Screening of lactic acid bacteria for bacteriocins by microbiological and PCR methods

Suwanjinda

Eames

Panbangred

2007

Biochem Molecular Bio Educ

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We describe a practical laboratory designed for third-year undergraduate students of Biotechnology as part of a Microbial Physiology and Genetics course. It comprises a five-session laboratory module to screen foods for lactic acid bacteria (LAB) 1 and to test isolated LAB for the presence of bacteriocins. Traditional Thai fermented foods are first screened for bacteriocin-producing LAB using microbiological methods. This is followed by a simple and rapid DNA extraction and by a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using three pairs of specific primers to test for the presence or absence of various bacteriocin genes in the isolated LAB. PCR amplicons of 332, 412, and 608 bp indicate the presence of pediocin, enterocin, and nisin genes, respectively, whereas no amplicon band indicates the absence of these bacteriocins. The laboratory provides the students with experience in the use of microbiological and multiplex PCR methods and shows how the molecular biology techniques can be related to their daily lives. The module could easily be adapted to the study of fermented foods from other countries.

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confidence: 99%

“…The PCR is a molecular technique that has been widely used in research to amplify a specific region of DNA template to millions of copies in a few hours [3]. The technique is very useful in targeting specific regions of a chromosome for study, and it allows the investigation of DNA that might otherwise be undetectable by usual techniques.…”

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confidence: 99%

Screening of lactic acid bacteria for bacteriocins by microbiological and PCR methods

Suwanjinda

Eames

Panbangred

2007

Biochem Molecular Bio Educ

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“…Sadly for teachers operating on restricted budgets, these instruments cost between $2000 and $12000. As a result, students are most often learning PCR the old-fashioned way, with up to 160 min of manual tube changes [2]. Recently we have described a simple, completely automatic thermal cycler built in our laboratory from under $25 worth of parts from a local hardware store [3].…”

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confidence: 99%

D1S80 PCR with the $25 thermal cycler

Betsch

Berard

1999

Biochemical Education

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“…In either case, unfortunately, the cost of commercially available thermal cyclers ($2,000 -20,000) is prohibitive to inclusion of PCR in routine laboratory practice. Educators wishing to perform PCR have been encouraged to share equipment among school districts or manually shuttle reaction tubes 90 -100 times among water baths set for the appropriate temperatures [2][3][4] as was done in the original method [1].…”

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confidence: 99%