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Biotechnology Project Ideas

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Showing 1 - 5 of 18 Project Ideas
Bioluminescence: Investigating Glow-in-the-Dark Dinoflagellates
Bioluminescence: Investigating Glow-in-the-Dark Dinoflagellates
Difficulty
Time Required Long (2-4 weeks)
Prerequisites None
Material Availability Specialty items: Living Pyrocystis lunula cell cultures are required for this science fair project and can be ordered online. See the Materials and Equipment list for details.
Cost High ($100 - $150)
Safety No issues

Imagine seeing waves glowing a beautiful blue color. The marine dinoflagellate Pyrocystis lunula is responsible for this magnificent phenomenon. Pyrocystis lunula is a bioluminescent organism—bioluminescence is the production of light by living organisms. But does this organism always glow, no matter what the conditions, such as how much light there is? In this biotechnology science fair project, you will investigate how altering this… Read more
Enzymes *
Enzymes
Difficulty
Time Required Long (2-4 weeks)
Prerequisites Should have basic knowledge of chemistry and chemical reactions.
Material Availability Readily available
Cost Low ($20 - $50)
Safety Use caution when choosing a biochemical reaction to study. For more information about chemical safety, consult the Chemical Safety Guide

Many proteins act as catalysts which speed up or regulate a biochemical reaction. The kinetics of an enzyme can be investigated by measuring the reactants and products of the reaction over time. Research the enzymatic reaction of a protein and investigate its kinetics. Measure the production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by catalase, the digestion of gelatin by papain, or any other enzymatic reaction you have access to. Bio-Rad's… Read more
Forensic Science: Building Your Own Tool for Identifying DNA
Forensic Science: Building Your Own Tool for Identifying DNA
Difficulty
Time Required Short (2-5 days)
Prerequisites None
Material Availability Readily available
Cost Average ($50 - $100)
Safety No issues

When biologists want to separate different pieces of DNA, RNA, or proteins they use a technique called gel electrophoresis. In this science project you'll build a gel electrophoresis chamber and use it to discover how many components are in different colors of food coloring dye. Read more
Sizing It Up! How Scientists Separate Proteins
Sizing It Up! How Scientists Separate Proteins
Difficulty
Time Required Average (6-10 days)
Prerequisites Familiarity with how to use a micropipette is needed.
Material Availability This science fair project requires specialty items, including the Bio-Rad Size Exclusion Chromatography Kit and a sample of green fluorescent protein. See the Materials and Equipment list for details. It also requires a number of common molecular biology items, such as pipettes, micropipettes and tips, and a UV light—likely obtainable from your school laboratory.
Cost Very High (over $150)
Safety Adult supervision is recommended. Follow all safety instructions that come with the Bio-Rad kit(s).

Have you ever had to sort a jumble of objects into piles, based on their type? Maybe laundry, or a big load of dishes, or while organizing the garage or a closet? Scientists have to do something similar when they want to study or isolate just a single type of protein. For example, a botanist might discover an exotic plant that is poisonous when eaten, but that also has great antibiotic properties. To help develop a new antibiotic for human use,… Read more
Turn Plants into Biofuel with the Power of Enzymes *
Turn Plants into Biofuel with the Power of Enzymes
Difficulty
Time Required Long (2-4 weeks)
Prerequisites This science project requires access to a biology or chemistry laboratory with, at minimum, pipettes and a balance.
Material Availability This project requires the Bio-Rad Biofuel Enzyme Kit. You will need a teacher's help to order it as Bio-Rad only sells directly to schools.
Cost Very High (over $150)
Safety Adult supervision is required in the laboratory facility.

Are biofuels the wave of the future? People often talk about these plant-derived fuels as a way to someday cut down on our dependency on non-renewable carbon-based fuels, like gasoline. Ethanol (a type of alcohol) is a common biofuel used today. In the United States, ethanol is a common biofuel additive to normal gasoline. In fact, some states mandate that when you fill up your gas tank, 10 percent of the total fuel volume be made of ethanol.… Read more
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