Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I am a ninth grade student doing a science project in which I extract DNA from bacteria and insert the antibiotic Ampicillin in to it. I had two questions on it:
1. I was originally thinking about using E. Coli for this experiment but figured it is too dangerous. Can someone please give me some feedback on what type of mild and harmless bacteria I can use for this experiment?
2. I also need access to a good laboratory and some kind of professional guidance. Can someone please recommend a good lab in the greater Sacramento area?
I will greatly appreciate all responses to my questions, and I hope that your answers will benefit me and my project.

Hi,

That is definitely a very common procedure used in many labs and does seem useful to whatever you are trying to do. A couple things, though, in response to your questions.

1A. E. coli is generally not too dangerous. The strains that high school are allowed to purchase for the most part have had the virulence genes removed and are, for all intensive purposes, edible, but I would recommend against it. S. epidermis strains are available in a similar manner. The bacterial strains will not be the main issue however, both of the ones I just described are BSL-1 (biosafety level 1) organisms, and you can therefore experiment on them in your high school lab. It might even be possible to purchase bacteria that already have the amp resistance gene.

1B. The bigger problem will be with the procedure. Transformation of microorganisms is very tightly controlled by the IRB (institutional research board) since transformation is an intentional genetic manipulation, and they don't want people creating super bacteria + viruses on accident, especially since you are trying to add in an ampR gene. That would need to be done in a university or research lab (with BSL-2 capabilities), which leads to...

2. Sorry I can't help on the specifics, but look for universities + research facilities nearby. Find faculty in the microbiology departments who look like they are conducting research which would use some of the same methods as you are, and send them rough research proposals detailing what you would like to do in their labs. Also, talk to you biology teachers and see if they have nearby connections or if they can offer you professional help.

Cheers! Hope this helps,
Aaron Lin