Boring to Glowing: Learn how to Transform Bacteria!

Genetic transformation is the process of adding new DNA to bacteria, giving them new abilities. It's one of the foundational techniques in modern biotech, used to engineer bacteria for everything from producing medicines to studying how genes work. This is the third class in our four-part Introduction to Biohacking series. Each class stands on its own, so you can jump in here, though taking the full series gives you a more complete foundation in biohacking and synthetic biology.

We'll be working with E.coli and a gene called GFP (Green Fluorescent Protein), originally discovered in a glowing jellyfish. Once introduced into bacteria, it makes them glow bright green under the right light. We'll walk you through what's happening when bacteria take up new DNA, the conditions that make it work, and what separates a successful transformation from a failed one.

You’ll perform the transformation yourself, then spread your bacteria on plates and leave them to multiply. Bacteria take time to grow, so we'll send you photos of your glowing colonies once they develop, or you're welcome back to the space anytime to see them in person.

By the end of the hour, you'll know how to perform a genetic transformation. Everyone who completes the session walks away with a certificate of completion.