School Break Bio! GFP Mutagenesis

Have you ever noticed all the different colors of glowing fish at a pet store? They were made by introducing versions of a Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) gene from jellyfish that were mutated to be different colors! Researchers mutate genes in the lab to learn about their impact on traits. Join us to use PCR and cutting-edge DNA assembly techniques commonly used by researchers in the lab to mutate genes, and change the color of GFP yourself!

Participants will:

• Learn how to design PCR primers to create a point mutation in a gene of interest;
• Introduce a specific mutation in a GFP-coding plasmid by PCR;
• Transform bacteria with mutated plasmids;
• Observe, extract, and purify fluorescent proteins expressed by bacteria.

The program runs February 18 & 19, from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and is appropriate for students in grades 9–12.

Host or Publisher Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory DNA Learning Center