Unit 6 Reflection

In this unit we learned about Biotech and the fields that apply to it, specifically, Industrial/Environmental Biotech that includes Fermentation which uses yeast to convert sugars, Agricultural Biotech that has Classical breeding that is used to predict how many species are to produce from breeding over time, Medical Biotech including Gene therapy which replaces the gene copy that is defective, and finally Diagnostic Biotech which is used in testing to search possible genes or DNA that cause disorders. We also learned the steps of creating Recombinant DNA by first identifying the Gene of Interest, find its’ antibiotic resistance in the plasmid, then find the area of the gene that Restriction Enzymes cuts once as well as above and below region. Next, we use Ligase to mix the sticky ends of the Restriction Enzymes, and mix Recombinant plasmid with bacteria, by placing it on agar mixed with antibiotics. Then we grow transformed DNA and transfer to broth to make bacteria to express gene, with finally extracting and purifying protein once gene is produced. The last few steps from when it places Recombinant DNA on agar oto using broth to express gene to purify the protein is part of pGLO, and was used in our pGLO lab. We also learned the technologies of Biotech, with first, PCR preparing DNA for future analysis, and then using Gel Electrophoresis to separate DNA fragments based on size, and uses a ruler to determine the number of base pairs. Next, DNA  is being sequenced where it is determined by order of bases, and by having an extra Fluorescent dye attached at each sequence ends the synthesis of the strand and determined which strand goes first. Then it copies Gel Electrophoresis onto a computer to result an Electropherogram. We also had labs like the Candy Electrophoresis lab where we use the steps of Gel Electrophoresis by extracting the dye of the candy to observe what happens to the dye when it is put under the Gel Electrophoresis, and the answer to it is it seperates from the dye where smaller dyes seperate farther from than larger dyes. Also, along with Recombinant DNA, we had the Recombinant DNA lab where we identify any restriction enzymes in the plasmid near the Insulin gene and cut it once. Finally, the pGlo lab was about testing different plates when under Lorraine Broth,and/or Ampicillin, and/or Arabinose.

My strengths in the Unit are knowing the applications of Biotech,Bioethics and the technologies of Biotech. I still need to study more of the Recombinant DNA process, with the steps along with it.

By learning from this unit, I learned Biotech is used in our daily lives, and has many fields to it. The applications to Biotech is a lot, but I need to know the important ones like Engineering and doing Diagnostic testing. I am a better student than yesterday, and will study more for the upcoming test, by looking over the vodcasts more. I have did more of asking questions, which was one of my New Year's goals and thinking about others, but I still need to work on shushing others and accepting "constructive criticism.