MitochonDNArial

Introduction

A: Background Information
        In this lab, DNA is the most important factor. To get this DNA, one will get their own cheek cells to obtain the DNA from it. These cheek cells are transferred to a micro tube with InstaGene Matrix which is used to get the DNA by itself by killing enzymes such as DNAse. However, the DNA which has been obtained is much too small to see, hence PCR is used. PCR is the amplification and copy of a single piece of DNA (or a gene) multiple times so it can be used or seen. The complementary DNA strand hybridization and DNA strand synthesis via DNA polymerase. Once the PRC is done, loading dye will be added to the DNA sample for the gel electrophoresis to test to see which matches to the DNA sample.

B: Objective & Purpose
        The purpose of this lab is to take a tiny bit of DNA and amplify so that there is a lot more and then compare DNA results to see how similar people are to eachother. This can help in almost any kind of biological industry. For example, this can be used when attempting to find out if someone is related to you or not by test their mitochondrial DNA to see if it is similar, which is what we are also doing in this lab.

C: Procedures
         The procedures for this lab will be the same as the Disease Gene lab. However, the only difference would be that DNA primers are looking for a differnt gene in the mitochondria. The primer will look for the new gene and locate them, and the lab will get the mitochondrial DNA. After the lab table has recived the DNA, they will sequance it to see if their DNA is close to anyone elses.

D: Controls, Variables & Prediction
          The controls in this lab are... The variables in this lab are... My prediction is that the people of the same race in our class will have similar DNA while people of opposite races will be very different. In addition people that also look similar may have the same DNA as eachother.

Observations: 

Discussion:
A: Analyze and Explain Data
         The data which my lab table received proved that we did the lab correctly. All three of us had bands in the gel which shows that our genes were amplified. Our marker also showed up in the gel, which was also important. All in all, our lab was done correctly and we received the correct results.
B: Possible Sources of Error
       Possible sources of error in this lab could be if one did not receive enough genes from their cheeks. In addition if one did centrifuge instead of vortex, the beads can get combined and ruin the DNA from the DNAse. However, if one followed instructions correctly, they should receive the correctly results, without any errors.