GFP expression in E. coli: Make cells glow!

This is the "hello world" of biotech - you will make cells that glow! Adding jellyfish genes to bacteria might sound like it's complicated, but it's easy!

You will reprogram lab bacteria with DNA from a jellyfish to so they make green fluorescent protein (GFP) which GLOWS under a blacklight. We'll first learn about plasmid DNA and genetic engineering, and then move over to the lab to add new DNA to the bacteria using a chemical process. We'll grow the cells in an incubator and then put them onto agar plates. Since the cells take a few days to start glowing, we'll be sending photos a few days after the lab or you can visit BioCurious lab yourself to check them out! And you'll make friends who can help plan out your next biotech project, whether you want to win the science fair, work on a cool project, or change the world!

Time: 2 pm to 6 pm, Saturday, January 28th

Lab skills: basic lab safety, sterile technique, analyze plasmid DNA, chemical transformation protocol

Taught by: Paul Jaschke

Class fee: $50 Limited to the first 24 to sign up!

Young scientists under 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

The lab is based on curriculum developed by Derek Jacoby and Raymond McCauley for Singularity University.