Laboratory Experiments in Microbiology (11th Edition)
Laboratory Experiments in Microbiology (11th Edition)
11th Edition
ISBN: 9780321994936
Author: Ted R. Johnson, Christine L. Case
Publisher: PEARSON
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Chapter 31, Problem 2Q
Summary Introduction

To analyze:

If there was no growth on the DNA + E. coli plates, then what will happen.

Introduction:

Transformation is the process in which horizontal gene transfer takes place. For transformation to occur, a cell must be competent to take up the foreign gene. Either the cell is naturally competent, or these are chemically or electrically treated to make them competent.

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Explanation of Solution

Natural transformation helps bacteria to gain an extra-chromosomal copy of DNA, called a plasmid which provides many antibiotic resistance genes to the host cell. The artificial transformation has various applications in molecular biology and biotechnology, like the expression of large amounts of enzymes or proteins, cloning of a particular gene of interest so that many copies of a gene are available, and others.

Before the transformation, the cells are first made competent. For example, in the transformation of the DH5 alpha strain of e. coli, the cells are first made competent by treating them with calcium chloride and giving heat shock. These cells are then plated on ampicillin LB agar plates to observe whether they have received a foreign DNA insert or not.

If there is no growth on the DNA + Escherichia coli plates, then it indicates transformation has not taken place. This can occur due to the following reasons:

1. Cells have not become competent (competence is the ability of cells to uptake foreign DNA). heat-shock step must be repeated, or different strains of cells must be.

2. DNA of interest might be extracted directly from the plant or mammalian cells and contain methylated cytosine. Methylated cytosine is degraded by many E. coli cells.

3. Too much ligation mixture might have been used. Only 5 micro lire (μl) or less, ligation mixture should be used during transformation.

4. Inefficient ligation might have occurred. To avoid this, vector to insert molar ratio must be changed from 1:1 to 1:10, DNA must be purified to remove contaminants such as salts and EDTA, removal of phosphate before ligation should be done.

Conclusion

Thus, ifthere is no growth on the DNA + Escherichia coli plates, then it indicates transformation has not taken place.

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