An Underwater Lab

Introduction

A: Background Information
        Protenomics is the study of proteins. In this lab, we will combine protenomics with fish! Often times, people believe that fish that live in the same habitat, have the same diet, behave the same, and have very similar anatomy may be very similar. Although that may be true, often times fish that are the complete opposite may have even more similar DNA and protein that the ones which look similar. From previous labs we have learned that things will similar bands in gel eletrophorisis, will be similar. So we will use our previous knowledge from the other labs, and put them into this. Although all living things have DNA, they also have proteins, which is what we will be testing, since they have just as much as information as DNA. Learning more about different fishes proteins will help us understand why their protein is the same and from where this connection came from.
B: Objective & Purpose
        The objective and purpose of this lab is to test the fish which a lab table has brought in to compare to the similarities or differences of the proteins of the fish. The objective of this lab is to prove that even though fish could look similar, they may have even different protein than fish which look completely different. The purpose of this lab is that it uses protein to compare different species. For example, it has been used on  a comparison of humans, chimps and gorillas. Although one may think that chimps and gorillas are more similar, it has been been proved that humans and chimps are more similar than chimps and gorillas. Hence proving that regardless of the appearance and behavior, different/opposite species can be similar too.
C: Procedures
          The procedures of this lab are to get fliptop tubes and add 250 ul of Bio-Rad Laemmli to each in addition to fish muscle. Also make sure that these tubes, in addition to screwcap tubes, are labeled with the type of fish. Close the lid of the tube and flip it about 15 times. Afterwards, incubate for about five minutes at room temperature, then carefully pour the substances in the fliptop tubes to the screwcap tubes, but do not transfer the fish! Afterward, heat for five minutes at 95 degrees Celsius. On the next day, set up a protien gel eletophoresis and add the variables into the gel. Run the protein gel and afterward study to gel to find out which fish are more similar to each other!
D: Controls, Variables & Prediction
           The controls of this lab are the proteins of the fish which we are provided, we do not know of them at the time. These fish are different from the fish which the lab table provided, so they could also be the variables since we do not know what to expect. The variables for this lab are the fish which is brought the lab table brought in. This is a variable because we do not know what the protein is, so we will be testing for it ourselves. My prediction is that fishes which live in the habitat and have a history together will have similar protein, while others from opposite habitats and have different behavior and history will not be similar.

Observations: 

Discussion:
A: Analyze and Explain Data
         The data which my table received was that the tuna and the salmon were closely related to each other. We did not receive strong enough bands for the fake and real crab and the fruit flies. However, the scallops were next after the salmon in addition to the shrimp after that.
B: Possible Sources of Error
       Some possible sources of error in this lab are if the lab table didn't label the tubes correctly or if they listed the names in the gel in the wrong order. That is the biggest source of error which would throw off the whole lab. However, small mistakes, such as not changing the tips of the pipets, not waiting long enough in the water bath, or not flicking/shaking the tubs for too long could also cause errors in the lab.