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Project Summary
| Difficulty | 8 – 9 |
| Time required | Long (a couple of weeks) |
| Prerequisites | Access to a research laboratory with gel electrophoresis equipment is required for this project. |
| Material Availability | Kit available for purchase online from Bio-Rad, catalog #166-2700EDU |
| Cost | Very High (over $150) |
| Safety | Adult supervision in the laboratory facility is required. |
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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
Proteins are the work horse of a biological system, performing all of the biochemical functions necessary to maintain cellular metabolism, architecture and growth. Different tissues are made up of certain cell types that each have a unique population of proteins that make up the cellular environment. Because of this, different cell types have a unique protein profile, or fingerprint. You can use a protein profile to compare different cell types, cells before and after a treatment or similar cell types from different species. Try using the Comparative Proteomics Kit I: Protein Profiler Module (Catalog #166-2700EDU) from the Bio-Rad Biotechnology Explorer Program. With this kit you can purify protein extract from different tissue sources, run the protein out on a gel, and compare the banding patterns of prominent cellular proteins between your samples. You can follow the kit instructions to examine muscle proteins purified from different fish species. Can you identify similarities and differences in these organisms' protein profiles, or fingerprints? Which species have the most similar muscle protein profile? Compare the fish protein profiles against an evolutionary tree. Do the data agree? What explanations can you suggest? You can also try this kit on muscle from other species, which you can buy at the grocery store. Use lean cuts of beef, pork, chicken, or lamb. Another idea is to compare the protein profiles of different parts of the body, like chicken muscle, chicken heart, chicken liver, egg white. Do the different cell types have similar or different protein profiles? A further idea would be to use the kit to investigate if the protein profile of a tissue source changes after being treated with some type of chemical or biochemical compound. (Bio-Rad, 2006)Bibliography
Bio-Rad, 2006. "Biotechnology Explorer Program," Bio-Rad Laboratories [accessed 3/25/06] http://explorer.bio-rad.com.Materials and Equipment
Note: Bio-Rad Kits are sold directly to schools. To purchase, please have your school contact Bio-Rad at 800-424-6723 to verify account information and to place the order for you. Existing accounts will have orders processed within a day, and establishing an account will take approximately 48 hours.Variations
- For more science project ideas in this area of science, see Biotechnology Project Ideas.
Last edit date: 2009-01-05 12:00:00
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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