I want to do a project on genetic engineering and learn how to isolate a gene and insert it into another object like a plant by putting the gene inside a bacteria. I've read some sites about how someone who took a gene out of one plant and inserted it into another plant this way. And as the bacteria multiplied, it changed the plant's genetic makeup. The problem is I want to learn how to do this process. So I was wondering if anyone has a suggestion or maybe knows someone that would be able to help me.
Thanks!
P.S. This doesn't just apply to plants, also maybe changing a cells genetic make up too. I want to do a project on either one.
Genetic Engineering
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Genetic Engineering Requires a Sophisticated Laboratory
Shelley Force Aldred, Stanford University Department of Genetics, provides this guidance for you:
This is definitely a project that would need to be done in a college (or REALLY advanced high school) research lab - probably with the help of a graduate student or post-doctoral researcher. Depending on where you are located, the best bet would be to find a university research lab working with arabidopsis (the common plant model organism) or cell culture. The Arabidopsis Information Resource has a list of outreach programs located around the country at http://www.arabidopsis.org/info/programs.jsp Perhaps one of them might have a researcher willing to sponsor you.
The sticking point is not so much introducing DNA into an organism (which might be "rigged up" as a home project) but getting a hold of the DNA/gene you are interested in. For that, you'll need molecular biology equipment like a PCR machine, restriction enzymes, access to an ordering system that would allow designing custom DNA "oligos" (stretches of DNA) to act as primers for the PCR reaction, gel electrophoresis equipment, etc. All of these things are common in any molecular biology research lab - but my gut feeling is you'd be out of luck without that kind of high level assistance.
One more thing, if you find someone to help you, you'll probably need to have your project reviewed by the Scientific Review Committee (SRC) for the science fair you want to enter. See https://www.sciencebuddies.org/mentorin ... _src.shtml for more details.
An alternative might be to do a genomics project. These can be done using nothing more than your home computer. Check out the Science Buddies Cutting Edge Projects page at https://www.sciencebuddies.org/mentorin ... ntro.shtml
This is definitely a project that would need to be done in a college (or REALLY advanced high school) research lab - probably with the help of a graduate student or post-doctoral researcher. Depending on where you are located, the best bet would be to find a university research lab working with arabidopsis (the common plant model organism) or cell culture. The Arabidopsis Information Resource has a list of outreach programs located around the country at http://www.arabidopsis.org/info/programs.jsp Perhaps one of them might have a researcher willing to sponsor you.
The sticking point is not so much introducing DNA into an organism (which might be "rigged up" as a home project) but getting a hold of the DNA/gene you are interested in. For that, you'll need molecular biology equipment like a PCR machine, restriction enzymes, access to an ordering system that would allow designing custom DNA "oligos" (stretches of DNA) to act as primers for the PCR reaction, gel electrophoresis equipment, etc. All of these things are common in any molecular biology research lab - but my gut feeling is you'd be out of luck without that kind of high level assistance.
One more thing, if you find someone to help you, you'll probably need to have your project reviewed by the Scientific Review Committee (SRC) for the science fair you want to enter. See https://www.sciencebuddies.org/mentorin ... _src.shtml for more details.
An alternative might be to do a genomics project. These can be done using nothing more than your home computer. Check out the Science Buddies Cutting Edge Projects page at https://www.sciencebuddies.org/mentorin ... ntro.shtml
