ALU*
What It Is: Students isolate their own cheek cell DNA and use PCR to amplify the hypervariable site that either has the ALU insert or not. Genotyping done by electrophoresis. Bioinformatics activities available.
Credits: DNA Learning Center, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Subject Areas: Biotechnology, Biology II.
How Long It takes: 2-3 periods.
*Do this lab only after lots of experience with electrophoresis, micropipetting and PCR.

Amax of Bromophenol Blue/Spec 20 Lab*
What It Is: Students do measurements using volumetric tools including micropipettors, learn how to make dilutions, prepare a standard curve using a spectrophotometer, and test their skills with an unknown. Accuracy and precision addressed.
Credits: posted with the permission of Professor John Urbance of Michigan State University.
Subject Areas: physical science, chemistry, biology, AP biology, mathematics.
How Long It takes: one period.
*Do this lab before doing Amylase Adventure.

Amylase Adventure: scouting for a biotech product*
What It Is: Students investigate amylase activity using food extracts and then soil samples with starch-agar plates and then cultivate bacterial amylase-producers. Quantify amylase activity using iodine test. Option for using starch packing peanuts for environmental science extension.
Credits: Derived from Kreuzer and Massey's" Recombinant DNA and Biotechnology" text as well as the NYSCATE web site and Paul Patev's Advanced Biotechnology Education project at Middlesex CC, Bedford, MA.
Subject Areas: environmental science, biology, biotechnology.
How Long It takes: 1-4 periods, depending on how far you pursue the activity.
*Do the Amax lab first if using spectrophotometers.

Beano
What It Is: Introduce students to a biotechnology product called Beano. It contains an enzyme (alpha-galactosidase) that breaks down complex carbohydrates that otherwise cause gas production in humans when consumed. Students will monitor digestion and design experiments to test enzyme activity under various conditions.
Credits: Shoestring Biotechnology project from NABT.
Subject Areas: biology, anatomy-physiology (digestion), biotechnology.
How Long It takes: 1-3 periods, depending on how far you pursue the activity.

Bioinformatics (web-based) – four options.
What it is:  An introductory exercise that describes the field of bioinformatics including its career potential, and takes the student through a few simple exercises that use web databases to identify a DNA sequence. Requires computer linked to the internet.  One uses zoology examples, second uses biomedical examples.  The HIV exercise uses Biology Workbench and is inquiry-based exploration of how HIV evolves over time in the same patient and different patients.
Credits:  various sources including Geospiza and Austin Community College and BEDROCK.
Subject areas:  Biology courses, computer science, biotechnology.
How long it takes:  Parts I and II of first two options would take about one period or less.  Can use part III to expand to greater or lesser degree.
Opportunity for Capstone experience – visit with scientist doing genomics; visit with John McMurray, director for OCCC bioinformatics program.

 CLUE © Game
What it is:  A class activity simulating restriction enzymes cutting different DNA samples left at crime scene; samples are distributed, cut with restriction enzymes, and data assembled to determine whodunit.
Credits:  Sandra Porter of Geospiza.
Subject areas:  biology, biotechnology.
How long it takes:  one period or less.

Demystifying Electrophoresis – The Technology for DNA Identification.*
What it is:  Students explore the process of electrophoresis using pH indicators and  dyes, movement by charge and size, to achieve understanding of the basic elements of electrophoresis.
Credits:  various sources including Access Excellence and Univ. of Arizona Biotech Project.
Subject areas:  physical science, biology, chemistry, AP biology.
How long it takes:  One period to practice and then run electrophoresis and discuss results and brainstorm; one more period to try out hypothesis on other samples.
*This lab is prerequisite for any activity that uses electrophoresis.

DNA Extractions - DNA is Everywhere.
What it is:  We have protocols that show that you can extract DNA from many common food sources:  raw wheat germ, a fruit smoothie, kiwi, spinach, as examples.  The protocol is rapid and easy and chemicals are harmless.
Credits:  various sources including Access Excellence and Shoestring Biotech Project.
Subject areas:  Biology (genetics), general science.
How long it takes:  Assuming prior introduction to DNA, procedure can be done in part of period, then rest of period for brainstorming and planning other extractions.  Part of second period to test hypotheses.

DNA Patterns
What it is:  Students do electrophoresis of precut DNA samples; samples provide different patterns from plasmid or lambda DNA; describes use of restriction enzymes and plasmid maps.  Unknown provided.  Exercise to determine molecular weights available.
Credits:  DNA Learning center, OCCC biotechnology program.
Subject areas:  biology II, AP biology, biotechnology.
How long it takes:  two periods.
*Prerequisite:  Demystifying electrophoresis.

Exploring Careers in Biotechnology (web based activity)
What it is:  web based activity focusing on careers in biotechnology.
Credits: OCCC.
How long it takes:  one period or homework assignment.

Forensic Activities
What it is:  collection of labs and activities that we support which can be made into a unit on forensics, both at basic and more advanced levels.
Subject areas:  biology, general science, anatomy-physiology, biotechnology.
Time it takes:  variable lengths of time, depending on which activities chosen.

Genetically Modified Food PCR (Bt Corn)
What it is:  Students make extracts of corn plant leaves or corn-based food products and use PCR to detect presence of foreign DNA.
Credits:  corn material provided through Gary Thull of Education department of Pioneer seeds.
Subject areas:  environmental science, biology, horticulture, agriculture, biotechnology, botany.
How long it takes:  two-three periods. 
* Do Water bath PCR first.

The Human Genome Project (web based)
What it is:  science literacy would not be complete without some knowledge about the Human Genome Project.  Medical implications included.  Students access two web sites about the HGP to find out about it.  Requires internet access.
Credits:  OCCC.
Subject areas:  Biology (genetics), general science, anatomy-physiology, biotechnology.
How long it takes:  One period. or homework assignement.
Opportunity for Capstone experience – visit with scientist doing genomics.

Huntington's Disease - More is Less.
What it is:  Students learn something about the clinical aspects of Huntington's Disease, and the technology for genetic testing for this disorder. Contains electrophoresis of dyes that simulate patient samples with unknowns. Bioethics component includes role playing, ethical decision making model, and genetic counseling.
Credits:  OCCC.
Subject areas:  Biology (genetics), anatomy-physiology, biotechnology.
How long it takes:  One-four periods.
Opportunity for Capstone experience – Contact the Oklahoma HD patient support group.

Immunoassay - Simulation (with forensic or allergy context)
What it is:  Perform a simulated immunoassay to detect whether a mock protein sample came from one of four animal sources in the case of Farmer Brown or detect which allergen triggers a reaction in a patient sample.  The exercise can be integrated into a “crime scene” forensic exercise, or used to demonstrate antigen-antibody interactions.  Uses agar plates and harmless inorganic chemicals.  Students will conduct assay and then design further experiments with the technique.
Credits:  Shoestring Biotechnology project, NABT
Subject areas:  General science (forensics), Anatomy-Physiology (immunology), Biology (diffusion).
How long it takes:  Assuming prior introduction to the subject matter, one period to conduct protocol, part of next period to discuss results, brain storm new ideas, and design experiments.  Third period to perform student-designed experiments.

Introductio to Column Chromatography
What it is:  students make columns with sand and run beet extracts to investigate principles of chromatography.
Credits: Shoestring Biotechnology.
Subject areas:  BiologyII, biotechnology.
How long it takes:  One period.

Micropipetting - Learning to Use and Micropipetting Practice Activities.*
What it is:  Students learn correct usage of variable volume micropipettors.
Subject areas:  biology, biology II, biotechnology.
How long it takes:  One period or less for each activity.
*This exercise required before doing transformation, Amax and PCR labs

Molarity Concepts Using Electrophoresis Units
What it is:  Students work with power supply and gel box to derive concept of molarity from their observations. Requires variable power supply that can display amps.
Credits:  The Gene Connection project of San Mateo County Biotechnology Education Partnership.
Subject areas:  chemistry, biology, biotechnology.
How long it takes:  one period.

Ohm’s Law
What it is:  Students work with power supply and gel box to derive Ohm’s law from their observations. Requires variable power supply that can display amps.
Credits:  The Gene Connection project of San Mateo County Biotechnology Education Partnership.
Subject areas:  biology, biotechnology, physical science, physics.
How long it takes:  one period.

Seafood Forensics
What it is:  Students perform electrophoretic analysis of crabmeat protein extracts to determine if crabmeat is fake or real.  Presented in the context of a mystery to solve.
Credits:  Shoestring Biotechnology project, NABT.
Subject areas:  Biology, Honors biology (proteins, electrophoresis), biotechnology.
How long it takes:  One period to practice and prepare gels (can skip and use ready-made), one period to prepare extracts of samples, another period to load and run gel (instructor stains and destains gels); one period to discuss results and design further experiments; one period to run further experiments (as on different kinds of fish or meats).
* Prerequisite:  Demystifying electrophoresis.

Sickle Cell Anemia Part I, MolBiol; II, Genetics; III, WetLab; IV, bioinfo; V,Scenario (inquiry)
What it is:  Students learn something about the clinical and biological aspects of sickle cell anemia and the technology of genetic testing for this disorder.  Includes wet lab with electrophoresis using dyes to simulate two forms of hemoglobin. Five parts include molecular biology, genetics, wet lab for diagnosis, and bioethics.
Credits:  Boston CityLab, BU, OCCC.
Subject areas:  Biology (various levels) and Anatomy-physiology (blood).
How long it takes:  about 3-5 class periods.
Opportunity for Capstone experience – visit with genetic counselor who counsels for SCA or hematologist who treats SCA.

Transformation with pGREEN Plasmid*
What it is:  A culture of E. coli is transformed with plasmid that makes green fluorescent protein, turning the transformed colonies visibly green.
Credits:  protocol and plasmid derived from DNA Learning Center.
Subject areas:  biology II, AP biology, biotechnology.
How long it takes:  one period to perform transformation, look at results in second period.
*Prerequisite:  Micropipetting techniques.

Plasmid MiniPrep of pGREEN Plasmid
What it is:  A colony of transformed E. coli from transformation experiment is grown, and the plasmid is recovered, and identified with electrophoresis.
Credits:  protocol and plasmid derived from DNA Learning Center.
Subject areas:  biology II, AP biology, biotechnology.
How long it takes:  one period to recover plasmid.
*Prerequisites:  Demystifying electrophoresis, Micropipetting, and transformation expt.

Restriction Analysis of pGREEN Plasmid
What it is:  A miniprep plasmid is identified by restriction digest and electrophoresis.
Credits:  protocol and plasmid derived from DNA Learning Center.
Subject areas:  biology, AP biology, biotechnology.
How long it takes:  one period to digest; one period for electrophoresis.
*Prerequisites:  Demystifying electrophoresis and transformation expt. and  plasmid miniprep.

Recovery of pGREEN with Column Chromatography
What it is:  Students use hydrophobic interaction chromatography to extract and purify GFP from E. Coli MM294 transformed by pGREEN.
Credits:  protocol and plasmid derived from DNA Learning Center and OCCC program students.
Subject areas:  AP biology, biotechnolog, biology II.
How long it takes:  one-two periods, depending on skill of students in packing columns.
*Prerequisites:  Introduction to chromatography.

PCR Introduction - Water Bath and thermal cycler versions.
What it is:  Students use PCR beads, primer/loading dye mix, and Lambda DNA to amplify fragment of Lambda genome.  Water bath version recommended first.
Credits:  DNA Learning Center and OCCC.
Subject areas:  biologyII, AP biology, biotechnology.
How long it takes:  two periods, one for cycling, one for running gel.
*Prerequisites:  Micropipetting techniques and Demystifying electrophoresis.

PTC PCR
What it is:  Students isolate their own cheek cell DNA and use PCR to amplify a chromosome region that allows tasting or not of PTC.  Genotyping done by electrophoresis.  Followup bioinformatics activity available.
Credits:  DNA Learning Center, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Subject areas:  biotechnology, biology II.
How long it takes:  2-3 periods.
*Do this lab only after lots of work with  electrophoresis and PCR.

What is Biotechnology?
What it is: A brief introduction using powerpoint slides to the field of biotechnology.
Credits: OCCC.
Subject Areas: biology, biotechnology, biology II.
How long it takes: less than one period.