This unit was split up into various projects. These projects included a hardware cladogram project, a species evolution timeline, and a lab on Alu repeats. For the cladogram, the students were split up into various groups and each one was tasked with organizing various hardware pieces to show an imaginary evolutionary process of hardware. Each group then created a story using forms of speciation and describing evolution to show the process of how the hardware evolved. Finally, the pieces were arranged on a cladogram to show why we organized the way we did, and to show our knowledge of how cladograms work.
In the species evolution timeline, each pair of students had to create a graphic representing at least five stages of the evolution of any organism. My partner and I created a slideshow describing the evolution of the modern tiger. Our class worked on the first two projects, the cladogram and slideshow, side by side over a period of about three weeks. Finally, with the Alu repeat lab, the class followed a procedure to use gel electrophoresis on our own DNA to see if we contain specific Alu repeats. This was a major project, so we had a week solely for the lab.
In the species evolution timeline, each pair of students had to create a graphic representing at least five stages of the evolution of any organism. My partner and I created a slideshow describing the evolution of the modern tiger. Our class worked on the first two projects, the cladogram and slideshow, side by side over a period of about three weeks. Finally, with the Alu repeat lab, the class followed a procedure to use gel electrophoresis on our own DNA to see if we contain specific Alu repeats. This was a major project, so we had a week solely for the lab.
The picture on the left shows my group's final cladogram poster, while the document on the right is the slideshow on tiger evolution. These two projects were all about evolution and speciation. Many concepts were introduced during these projects, including various forms of speciation, natural selection, and evolution. For the cladogram, we integrated the processes of speciation into our stories, using things such as geographic isolation to describe speciation and evolution. The tiger project was weighted towards evolution, as the purpose was to describe the evolution of a certain organism. This project helped describe what common ancestors are and how they relate to modern species, such as describing related adaptations both species had.
Evolution- Change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations.
Natural Selection- The process of the environment allowing certain traits to become more dominant and killing off the disadvantageous traits. Natural selection works through four elements: variation among traits, competition for resources, survival, reproduction of the organisms that survived passing on the advantageous traits
Survival Of The Fittest- The organism best suited to its environment will survive.
Speciation- The process of creating a new species.
Adaptation- A trait which increases the likelihood of survival for the individual who exhibits that trait.
Evolution- Change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations.
Natural Selection- The process of the environment allowing certain traits to become more dominant and killing off the disadvantageous traits. Natural selection works through four elements: variation among traits, competition for resources, survival, reproduction of the organisms that survived passing on the advantageous traits
Survival Of The Fittest- The organism best suited to its environment will survive.
Speciation- The process of creating a new species.
Adaptation- A trait which increases the likelihood of survival for the individual who exhibits that trait.
The Alu repeat lab was all about working with lab procedures and learning various lab skills. In this project, each student followed a written procedure to acquire cells from their cheek, isolate the DNA from the cells, perform PCR to replicate the DNA, and then use a process called electrophoresis to sequence it. To successfully run this experiment, it was important to know what each step was actually doing. We spent a good deal of time learning about each process and what it does, including PCR, which replicates DNA sequences, and others lab techniques.
DNA- DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) is a molecule that carries the genetic instructions used in the growth, development, functioning and reproduction of all known living organisms.
Alu Repeat- "Alu repeats are approximately 300 base pairs in length. They got their name from the fact that most carry within them the base sequence AGCT which is the recognition site for the Alu I restriction endonuclease, a type of enzyme that cuts DNA at a specific site. There are over 500,000 Alu repeats scattered throughout the human genome. On average, one can be found every 4,000 base pairs along a human DNA molecule." BABEC ALU PCR 2017 Lab
PCR- Polymerase chain reaction is a technique to amplify a single copy or a few copies of a segment of DNA, creating millions of copies of a particular DNA sequence.
Gel Electrophoresis- A technique used in laboratories in order to separate macromolecules based on size. IT applies a negative charge so proteins move towards a positive charge. For DNA, smaller sequences move faster because they contain less proteins.
DNA Ladder- a set of standards that are used to identify the approximate size of a molecule run on a gel
DNA- DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) is a molecule that carries the genetic instructions used in the growth, development, functioning and reproduction of all known living organisms.
Alu Repeat- "Alu repeats are approximately 300 base pairs in length. They got their name from the fact that most carry within them the base sequence AGCT which is the recognition site for the Alu I restriction endonuclease, a type of enzyme that cuts DNA at a specific site. There are over 500,000 Alu repeats scattered throughout the human genome. On average, one can be found every 4,000 base pairs along a human DNA molecule." BABEC ALU PCR 2017 Lab
PCR- Polymerase chain reaction is a technique to amplify a single copy or a few copies of a segment of DNA, creating millions of copies of a particular DNA sequence.
Gel Electrophoresis- A technique used in laboratories in order to separate macromolecules based on size. IT applies a negative charge so proteins move towards a positive charge. For DNA, smaller sequences move faster because they contain less proteins.
DNA Ladder- a set of standards that are used to identify the approximate size of a molecule run on a gel
Reflection
During these three projects I learned many things. One thing that I learned was how to perform PCR and gel electrophoresis. PCR is needed for gel electrophoresis because it replicates just a few copies of DNA into millions of identical copies. This is needed for electrophoresis because without enough DNA sequences, nothing will show up on the gel. These techniques are crucial to know in biology and were very helpful in the Alu repeat lab. Another thing that I learned was how new species are created. Speciation can be caused by an array of different things, ranging from species being physically separated to the species just having separate mating patterns. For all three projects, there were many regions where I could have improved upon. A main problem I had for all three projects was time management. During the cladogram project, my group barely had time to finish, preventing us from practicing presenting. Working on time management will allow me to allocate time more efficiently and lead to me finishing my work on time. Another issue I had was during the Alu repeat lab, measuring precisely was a challenge. This could be the reason why my DNA did not show up on the gel after dying. Being able to measure precise amounts is important, as one small error can mess up an entire lab.
During these three projects I learned many things. One thing that I learned was how to perform PCR and gel electrophoresis. PCR is needed for gel electrophoresis because it replicates just a few copies of DNA into millions of identical copies. This is needed for electrophoresis because without enough DNA sequences, nothing will show up on the gel. These techniques are crucial to know in biology and were very helpful in the Alu repeat lab. Another thing that I learned was how new species are created. Speciation can be caused by an array of different things, ranging from species being physically separated to the species just having separate mating patterns. For all three projects, there were many regions where I could have improved upon. A main problem I had for all three projects was time management. During the cladogram project, my group barely had time to finish, preventing us from practicing presenting. Working on time management will allow me to allocate time more efficiently and lead to me finishing my work on time. Another issue I had was during the Alu repeat lab, measuring precisely was a challenge. This could be the reason why my DNA did not show up on the gel after dying. Being able to measure precise amounts is important, as one small error can mess up an entire lab.