Yogurt, biofuel, biodegradable plastics, and antibiotics are all examples of products
based on biotechnology research and manufacturing techniques. What else will we be able to create as we use biotechnology in new ways? You can explore some of these techniques for yourself with projects from our biotechnology techniques science and engineering project list.
Ever used a pair of molecular scissors? Restriction enzymes are molecular scissors that cut DNA into pieces. Find out which enzymes will cut, and where by making a restriction map. Then you can figure out what will happen if you change the sequence of the DNA. Will the same enzymes still cut the new DNA sequence?
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Have you ever looked in the kitchen cupboard and found a container of tiny white grains, but you were not sure if they were sugar or salt? They look very similar. How could you tell them apart? Well, you know that sugar and salt taste very different. Taste is actually called a property, and properties are used to describe and identify different materials. Properties can also be used to physically separate things. In this science project, you will use different properties to create a way…
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BioChem_p046
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Time Required
Average (6-10 days)
Prerequisites
None
Material Availability
Iron filings and neodymium magnets may need to be specially ordered. See the Materials and Equipment list for details.
Cost
Low ($20 - $50)
Safety
An adult's help may be needed for using a knife and scissors to cut a plastic bottle. Follow all safety precautions when handling the neodymium magnets; these magnets should never slam together, never pinch fingers or skin, never be swallowed, and should be kept away from all electronic devices. Keep them out of reach of all young children and pets. An adult should help if a stovetop or oven is used.
Do you like solving mysteries? In this experiment, you can find out how a DNA fingerprint can help you figure out whodunit. The answer might just be in the "sequence" of events!
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Do you know why enzymes are oftentimes called the workhorses of biochemistry? It's because they can speed up a wide variety of chemical reactions, and chemists and biologists use enzymes to do all kinds of jobs. In this project, pectinase, an enzyme frequently used in the food industry, will be used to extract juice from apples.
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BioChem_p010
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Time Required
Short (2-5 days)
Prerequisites
None
Material Availability
Specialty Items
Cost
Average ($40 - $80)
Safety
Use care when using sharp knife to chop apples. Do not drink the juice produced in this experiment.
In this project, you'll learn how to isolate DNA from onion cells, separating it from other cellular components in a manner that still preserves its structure and sequence. In the end, you'll have enough DNA to see with the unaided eye, and you'll be able to spool it to demonstrate its strand-like structure.
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BioChem_p001
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- Less Details
Time Required
Average (6-10 days)
Prerequisites
None
Material Availability
Readily available
Cost
Low ($20 - $50)
Safety
Use caution when handling ethanol because it is very flammable. Adult supervision is recommended for using the stove and a food processor or blender.
