Edvotek Transformation of E. coli with Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) Experiment Kit

In this experiment, students will explore the biological process of bacterial transformation using E. coli and plasmid DNA. At the end of the activity, students will have experience observing and analysing acquired traits (ampicillin resistance and fluorescence) as exhibited by transformed bacterial cells.

• Explore genetic engineering and the central dogma with this elegant experiment
• Transform E. coli with pFluoroGreen™ — a plasmid containing genes for ampicillin resistance and the green fluorescent protein
• Select for transformed cells using LB-ampicillin plates and calculate transformation efficiency
• Expose transformed cells to IPTG to demonstrate differential gene expression
• New transformation protocol has high transformation efficiency = great results!
• Group size: for 10 lab groups
• Time required: set up - 50 minutes, incubation - overnight, transformation - 15 minutes
• Kit includes: instructions, BactoBeads™ E. coli GFP Host, supercoiled pFluoroGreen™ plasmid DNA, ampicillin, IPTG, CaCl₂, Growth Additive, ReadyPour™ luria broth agar (sterile), luria broth medium for recovery (sterile), Petri plates (small), Petri plates (large), plastic microtipped transfer pipettes, wrapped 10mL pipette (sterile), toothpicks (sterile), inoculating loops (sterile), and microcentrifuge tubes
• All you need: automatic micropipette (5 to 50µL) and tips, two water baths (37°C and 42°C), thermometer, incubation oven (37°C), pipette pumps or bulbs, ice, marking pens, bunsen burner, hot plate or microwave, hot gloves, and long wave UV light
• Storage: some components require refrigerator and freezer storage