HHMI Mobile Molecular Lab The mobile lab is designed for use in the high school biology classroom. The goal is to reinforce understanding of biological topics that are a growing part of everyday life.
Background
The HHMI-NMSU Mobile Molecular Lab for high school biology is sponsored by a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The mobile lab visits high schools across the state of New Mexico and provides students with the opportunity to use state-of-the-art laboratory equipment and advanced molecular biology techniques. All equipment and supplies are provided for free.
Overview of Activities
Students determine their phenotype for a gene that controls the ability to taste a bitter chemical. They then predict their genotype based on their phenotype. Techniques such as DNA extraction, PCR amplification, restriction enzyme screening, and gel electrophoresis will be used to determine students actual genotype. The Hardy-Weinberg principle will be used to predict genotpye frequencies and highlight data analysis techniques. DNA sequence data from humans and other mamals will be used to reconstruct a phylogenetic tree.
Objectives
By the end of the laboratory exercise students will...
- Understand the relationship between phenotype and genotype.
- Understand how genetic mutations can affect phenotypic (or physical) characteristics.
- Use the Hardy-Weinberg principle to predict genotype frequencies based on observed phenotypes.
- Use and understand molecular techniques used by scientists in the research, pharmaceutical, biomedical and forensic science fields.
- See how evolutionary relationships are reconstructed using DNA seequence data.
These activities have been designed to help reach the New Mexico State Department of Education Science Standards and Benchmarks for grades 9-12 in the life sciences.