Page 88 - 2023/24 Kaleidoscope Volume9

In the presence of a restriction
enzyme, the plasmid DNA was 'cut' to

fo f f rm a complementary sequence. Then, a
DNA fr f f agment (green fl f f uorescent
protein ggene) frff om the jellyfiff sh was 'cut'

with a restriction enzyme to foff rm a
sequence. These DNA frff agments give an
organism the characteristic of being able

to glow in the dark. They joined both the
plasmids and DNA frff agments together

using a centrifuff gation method. This
Students greatly appreciate
procedure foff rms recombinant molecules.
Taylor's University and the school
The recombinant molecules are then
fo f f r organising such a benefiff cial
introduced into host cells (E. coli). The
workshop. Throughout the
uptake of the plasmid into a host is
workshop, they got to perfoff rm the
known as the transfoff rmation process.
experiment practically, which
During this process, the host cells were
strengthened their understanding of
incubated on ice foff r 10 minutes, then
the theories tauught by the lecturer.
heat shocked at 42°C foff r 45 seconds and
They were also amazed that a cell,
returned to ice again foff r 2 minutes. The
being the simplest unit of the human
host cells are said to undergo heat shock
body, can be edited with just a feff w
transfo ff rmation. Aftff er incubating in a
simple procedures to possess the
water bath at 37°C foff r 30 minutes foff r
characteristics of other cells. Indeed,
cell repair and recovery, the host cells
the workshop motivated students to
were plated on medium with antibiotics
explore and discover the beauty of
and cultured in a suitable environment.
biology and inspired them to be

involved in thhe biology sector in the
fu f f ture. Alltthough the experiment

mayy need more theoretical teaching,
such as explaining the mechanism
and extending knowledge of each

step in detail, they would love to
participate in similar activities again.

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