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Project Summary
| Difficulty | 8 – 9 |
| Time required | Long (a couple of weeks) |
| Prerequisites | Basic introduction to chemistry |
| Material Availability | A computer with Internet access is necessary for this project. |
| Cost | Very Low (under $20) |
| Safety | No issues |
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Sponsor
| Sponsored by generous grants from Bio-Rad and its Biotechnology Explorer program |
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| Inspiring minds want to know. Unravel the mysteries of biotech |
| explorer.bio-rad.com |
| * Note: This is an abbreviated project idea, without notes to start your background research or a procedure for how to do the experiment. You can identify abbreviated project ideas by the asterisk at the end of the title. If you want a project idea with full instructions, please pick one without an asterisk. |
Abstract
Some proteins are soluble in aqueous solutions and some are not. Insoluble proteins can be a problem because the proteins can form large aggregates in solution which are difficult to purify, crystallize, and use in experiments. Compare the amino acid sequence and 3-D structures of some soluble and insoluble proteins (Berman, 2000). Is the structure polar or non-polar, and how might this affect solubility? How do detergents make an insoluble protein more soluble? Investigate how this technology is used to make cleaning products that are designed to break up the biochemical particulate matter that create stains on clothing and other surfaces. Are detergents or special enzymes involved?Bibliography
Berman, H.M., et. al., 2000. "The Protein Data Bank," Nucleic Acids Research, 28 pp. 235-242 (2000). [accessed 3/25/06] http://www.rcsb.org/pdb/Welcome.do.Variations
- For more science project ideas in this area of science, see Biotechnology Project Ideas.
Last edit date: 2006-12-27 14:22:48
Career Focus
If you like this project, you might enjoy exploring careers in Biotechnology.
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Biochemist Growing, aging, digesting—all of these are examples of chemical processes performed by living organisms. Biochemists study how these types of chemical actions happen in cells and tissues, and monitor what effects new substances, like food additives and medicines, have on living organisms. |
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Agricultural Technician As the world's population grows larger, it is important to improve the quality and yield of food crops and animal food sources. Agricultural technicians work in the forefront of this very important research area by helping scientists conduct novel experiments. If you would like to combine technology with the desire to see things grow, then read further to learn more about this exciting career. | |
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Biological Technician What do the sequencing of the human genome, the annual production of millions of units of life-saving vaccines, and the creation of new drought-tolerant rice varieties have in common? They were all accomplished through the hard work of biological technicians. Scientists may come up with the overarching plans, but the day-to-day labor behind biotech advances is often the work of skilled biological technicians. | |||
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