Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

So far, I haven't been really interested in any of the bulletin or ideas on this website.
I wanted to do a science project regarding DNA extraction.
Would it be possible to extract certain DNA to give another organism another trait, as in adding to their their DNA? Or if I could replace DNA sequences with other DNA sequences without risking any harm to any organisms?
I already have experience extracting DNA, and what laboratory safety hazards would this lab involve? What organisms would be fair to experiment on?

Hi anabellabonn,

I'm sorry you haven't found something that interests you. I believe I answered some of these questions in your earlier post (in the Grades 6-8 forum). To get the most out of the Ask an Expert forum, it's best to continue posting in your original thread, so the other experts can see the communications that have already happened regarding your search for a project.

anabellabonn wrote:What organisms would be fair to experiment on?

Transformation is most easily accomplished with bacteria, though you can also get plasmids into yeast (in which case it is called transfection, because yeast are eukaryotes). Working with microorganisms involves certain safety regulations, and it's best to check with your school or science fair guidelines regarding their particular policies.

Here are some resources for general biotechnology techniques:
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-f ... ques.shtml

Here is some specific information regarding recombinant DNA, which is how plasmids are made:
http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultran ... ntDNA.html
Take a look at these resources regarding working with biological agents:
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-f ... ents.shtml

This a resource for entering projects into ISEF, but can be used for advanced biomedical projects, such as yours.
http://apps.societyforscience.org/isef/ ... /index.asp

Also, since you will be working with recombinant DNA (rDNA), you will need to do this in a university or other research-type lab; most high schools don't have the trained staff and chemical labs required for this type of project. You can find out from your science teacher.

NCBI is the resource you will need when you are ready to look at your genetic sequence. There are plenty of resources on this page about the different aspects of your project.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/guide/genes-expression/

Finally, Bio-Rad has a kit you can use to make your own recombinant DNA!
Here is the information from Bio-Rad about making DNA plasmids with a particular gene:
http://www.bio-rad.com/webroot/web/pdf/ ... 665019.pdf

I hope this helps. Please post again (in the same thread!) if you need more questions answered.

Heather