Protein Expression with β-Galactosidase explores biomanufacturing as add-on only experience. Students will learn about cell growth, protein expression, and β-galactosidase before setting up bacterial cultures with various additives affecting growth and/or expression in 96-well plates. Students will participate in their other lab experience while the bacteria grow. Then, they will use multichannel pipettes to assay their cultures, collect data on a spectrophotometer, and analyze their results.
Key Topics:
- Cell Growth
- Protein Expression and Enzymes
- Data Analysis
- Multichannel Micropipettes
This field trip is categorized as an Intermediate field trip, and is appropriate for students at a high school level or above who have had exposure to the concepts of molecular biology. Students that have had experience in the laboratory with micropipettes will be at a distinct advantage when they explore concepts that are fundamental to the way in which modern biotechnology works!
Length of Field Trip: 2 to 2.5 hours but requires a 30 – 60 minute incubation. This time could be used for another field trip offering, lunch, or a teacher-created activity.
Cost of Field Trip: $176 for up to 16 students; $11 for every additional student.
