Southern blot analysis, named after its inventor Edwin M. Southern, is a common research technique for enhancing the results of agarose electrophoresis. DNA is resolved on an agarose gel and...

A PCR Based Laboratory Research Experiment.  A major challenge for molecular biologists and genetic engineers is to easily detect and analyze genetic mutations that occur naturally, causing diseases, or during...

The final goal in molecular biology is often the expression of a recombinant protein. The transformed plasmids can be used as templates by the bacteria to produce protein. Students learn about...

Bacterial plasmids, the non-genomic transferable DNA, can easily be purified from bacteria using numerous techniques.  The purification of DNA is important for genetic research as it provides a source of...

Bacterial transformation allows researchers to insert their recombinant DNA into bacteria, which then multiply making more copies of the transformed bacteria. The transformed plasmid can also be used by the...

Restriction enzymes are DNA-cutting enzymes found in bacteria and as they cut within the molecule, are often called restriction endonucleases. A restriction enzyme recognizes and cuts DNA only at a...

A major factor in the advancement of the genomic field and subsequent sequencing of the human genome was the ability to amplify the amount of genes, giving researchers an unlimited...

Agarose gel electrophoresis is a routinely used tool for separating nucleic acids.  Nucleic acids are negatively charged molecules, which when loaded onto the solid agarose matrix, migrate in the presence of...

Genomic DNA isolation is a crucial technique in molecular biology, genetic manipulation and biotechnology. To carry out these exciting and innovative sciences, researchers require an original source of DNA, which...

Bacterial conjugation is a naturally occurring process that allows the transfer of DNA from one bacterium to another, which allows the transfer of genetic traits, particularly drug resistance.   The Bacterial...

An interesting hands-on lab activity that teaches students the skills required for the isolation of bacteria from test samples. This kit teaches aseptic handling techniques and cultivation of bacteria. Using bacterial...

Antibiotics play a crucial role in the manipulation, screening and killing of bacteria in a range of biotechnology processes.  This kit specifically teaches the basic principles of antibiotics, bacterial resistance...