Saturday, March 14, 2009

Plant Genomic DNA Extraction

Plant Genomic DNA Extraction
Last week friday, we was given a chance on running an experiment- Plant Genomic DNA extraction.... It is very interesting..... and gain a lot of knowledge and skills


Plant Acacia mangium had been used on this experiment. The experiment started by doing some cleaning on the Acacia leaf then followed cut it into small pieces.... ( This methods make it easy for disrupting the cell wall of the leaves)

Later, Liquid Nitrogen is added into the mortal in order to freeze the leaves... then the leaves is rapidly grind into a fine powder with a pestle and mortar as the liquids nitrogen boils off (Liquids nitrogen is added to keep the powder from thawing while grinding)
* Note: Liquids Nitrogen is extremely harmful and extra precaution must be taken
Remember to wear double layer of Gloves...


Grinding the leaves into fine powder

Deng La..... It is done....

Look!! Our lecture is demonstrated the technique of grinding the leaves to us...

In order to prevent contamination, all of our experiment is done on the laminar flow hood... Due to laminar flow hood is not enough to provide for all 139 of biotechnology students, so we have to share each others.. Queue up in a line...

This is the sample after CIA solution is added and centrifuge at 13000rpm for 5 minutes to obtain supernatant. The supernatant is carefully transfered into the sterile, new, clean 2.0ml microcentrifuge tube
This is the sample after cold isopropanol is added and centrifuge at 13000 rpm for 2 minutes in order to precipitate nucleic acids. Then after that it is store at -20 degree celcius freezer for at least 30 minutes.


Plenty sample have been prepared.


Look!! One of friend is pipetting the supernatant out from the centrifuge tube into a new tubes...

After 30 minutes, centrifugation at 13000 rpm for 2 minutes to obtain the pellet DNA. After the pellet of DNA is obtained, the supernatant is discarded. Then DNA wash buffer is added and rinse the pellet by tapping the tube gently with finger tips ( the dilute ethanol removes salts ).
After that, centrifuge again at 13000rpm for 2 minutes. Supernatant is discarded and let the pellet air dry before resuspend in TE buffer for further analysis.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Lab Experiment ( DNA Isolation - Methodology)

Methodology:

A. Preparation of Overnight Bacterial Culture

1. A single colony is inoculated by using autoclaved tips from the agar plate containing single colonies of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens UMAS 1002.

2. The tip with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens UMAS 1002 is added into bijou bottle containing 5 ml of LB media. The culture is then incubated with shaking for overnight at 370C.

3. The bacterial cultures are kept at 40C for used in further DNA analysis and isolation.

B. Isolation and Preparation of Genomic DNA from Bacteria

1. One and a half of an overnight culture is transferred into Eppendorf tube and centrifuged for 30 seconds.

2. After centrifugation, the supernatant is removed and the cell pellet is resuspended in 567µL TE buffer. The cell pellet is mixed well by continuous pippeting.

3. 30µL of 10% (w/v) SDS and 3µL 20mg/ml Proteinase K is added to give a final concentration of 100µg/ml proteinase K in 0.5% SDS solution. 100 µL of 5M NaCl solutions is also added and mixed well.

4. 80µL of CTAB/NaCl is added into the mixture. The culture is mixed well and incubated for 10 minutes in water bath at 65¬0C.

5. After 10 minutes, 780µl of Phenol / Chloroform / Isoamyl alcohol (25: 24: 1) that is added to the mixture. Then, the mixture is vortexed briefly and centrifuged for 5 minutes to separate the phases.

6. The viscous and clear supernatant is transferred carefully into new Eppendorf tube. The aqueous DNA layer once again is re-extract using Chloroform/Isoamyl alcohol (24: 1) and centrifuged for 5 minutes.

7. After centrifugation, the supernatant is transferred into a new Eppendorf tube. 420µl of isopropanol is added to precipitate out the nucleic acid. The tube is vortexed up and down slowly until the white DNA precipitate appears. The DNA precipitate can be pelleted by centrifugation for 30 seconds.

8. The supernatant is removed and the DNA pellet is washed with 200µL of 70% ethanol and centrifuged for another 30 seconds at room temperature. The supernatant is carefully removed and the pellet is air-dry.

9. The dried DNA pellet is dissolved in 100µL of TE buffer and stored at -40C before use in the further analysis.

C. Isolation of Double-Stranded Plasmid DNA

1. The bacterial cells are harvested from a 2 ml overnight culture containing cloned plasmid by transferring into a 2 ml Eppendorf tube and centrifuging at 8000 rpm for 2 minutes at room temperature.

2. The supernatant (culture media) is removed carefully and recentrifuge the pellet for 1 minute. Any traces of liquid media are removed completely from the tube.

3. The cell pellet is resuspended by vortexing briefly for 10 seconds using 100µl of Solution I. and after that kept the tube on ice.

4. 100µl of Solution II is added to the cell suspension and gently mixed by inverting the tube 10X. The tube is left at room temperature and the lysis reaction is allowed to occur for 5 minutes. A clear viscous liquid have been observed.

5. 300µl of Solution III is added and mixed by inverting the tube 10X. A white precipitate has been observed. The precipitate is pellet out by centrifuging at 10,000rpm for 5 minutes. The supernatant which contained plasmid DNA is transferred carefully into a sterile 1.5ml Eppendorf tube.

6. The plasmid DNA is precipitated by adding 800µl of cold absolute ethanol. The content is mixed gently by inverting the tube at least 10X.

7. The plasmid DNA is pellet out by centrifuging at 13000rpm for 5 minutes at room temperature. The supernatant is discarded and washed the pellet with 500µl of 70% ethanol and recentrifuged at 13000rpm for 2 minutes.

8. The supernatant is discarded as much as possible and allowed the plasmid DNA pellet to air dry for 15 minutes at room temperature. The plasmid DNA pellet is resuspended and dissolved in 50 µl of sterile ultra pure water.

D. Restriction Analysis of DNA Using Universal Restriction Endonucleases.

1. The reaction for restriction digestion is prepared as the list order in the following:

Sterile ddH2O 12µl (quantity sufficient)
10 X assay buffer 2µl (one-tenth volume)
DNA (with insert) 5µl
Restriction enzyme (Pst 1) 1µl (1-10 units per µg DNA)
Total volume 20µl

2. After finished adding the above materials, we gently mixed the digestion by pipetting and incubating the reaction at the 370C for 1hours – 2 hours.

3. In the mean time, the isolated genomic DNA and plasmid DNA are ran through by using Agarose Gel Electrophoresis method 1% of agarose gel is used and electrophoresis is performed at 105 volts for 30 minutes.

4. After 2 hours, the enzyme is inactivated by heating at 650C for 10 minutes.

5. Then, the restriction digestion sample is ran through Agarose Gel Electrophoresis methods in order to get the DNA band.

E. Glass Wool Spin Column Preparation.

1. A clean hypodermic needle is used to drive a hole in the end of a 650 microliter Eppendorf tubes from the inside and then the cap is cut off.

2. Gloves are worn in order to pull off a small piece of glass wool and roll it into a ball between hands. The glass wool is place in the bottom of the 650 microliter tube.1 ml pipette tip is used to pack the glass wool in the bottom of the tube.

3. The tube with the glass wool is placed into a 1.7 ml Eppendorf tube.

F. Eluting DNA from Agarose Gel Fragments.

1. Ethidium bromide stained agarose gel is visualized with a transilluminator on low setting to get the fragment of interest. Then the fragment of interest is excised out with a clean razor blade in a fast pace in order to minimize the UV exposure to the DNA. After the excess liquid is removed with a tissue paper, the agarose fragment is placed into the spin column.

2. The tube at 2874 Xg is centrifuged for no more than 45 seconds to elute the DNA.

3. Transilluminator is used to check the eluent in the bottom of outer tube for the presence of ethidium bromide stained DNA.

Lab Experiment ( DNA Isolation - Intro)

Isolation of Genomic DNA and Double-Stranded Plasmid DNA from Bacterial Culture with Restriction Analysis of Genomic DNA Using Universal Restriction Enzymes and DNA Extraction and Purification.

Objective:

1. To use the aseptic technique in transferring bacterial colonies to bacterial growth media.

2. To learn the technique of vortexing or pipetting in order to mix well the solutions.

3. To learn technique on how to isolate the genomic and plasmid DNA of the bacterial culture.

4. To do the Restriction Analysis using Universal Restriction Enzyme

5. To learn the technique of DNA extraction and purification from Agarose Cell.

6. To learn the technique in performing the Agarose Gel Electrophoresis.

7. To learn the skill of separating the supernatant from the pellet.

Introduction:

Genomic DNA is the DNA found in the chromosomes. It can be either double-stranded or single-stranded. In modern molecular biology laboratories, DNA is routinely isolated from cells as the first step in analysing genes.

In order to obtain the purified DNA from cells, scientists must first release the DNA by breaking open the cell membrane and the nuclear membrane. Once the DNA is released from the nucleus, however, it can be destroyed by enzymes in the cytoplasm that degrade DNA. As a result, there are some ways to guard the DNA against attack by enzymes from the cell. Lastly, the released DNA must be separated from the proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates, amino acids, fatty acids, and other cellular molecules.

There are two features of most DNA isolations that help protect the DNA. The first is coldness which is isolation of DNA procedure is usually done on ice to slow the action of cellular enzymes that might degrade the DNA. The second is gentleness: DNA strands are extremely long and fragile. Therefore all steps should be done slowly and gently to avoid shearing the DNA strands. The same things go for the plasmid DNA.

There are some methods to extract the plasmid DNA that is either using the spin column or the conventional methods. As we know that, bacterial cell contain both the genomic DNA and plasmid DNA, scientists need to isolate the plasmid from the genomic DNA. The most suitable procedure is used to extract plasmid DNA from bacterial cell suspensions based on the alkaline lyses procedure developed by Birnboim and Doly. Both nucleic acids and proteins denature under the alkaline conditions, and once the solution is neutralized by the addition of Potassium Acetate Salts, chromosomal DNA and proteins aggregate together while the plasmids renature correctly and remains in the solutions. This procedure take advantage of the fact that plasmids are relatively small supercoiled DNA molecules and bacterial chromosomal DNA is much larger and less supercoiled. As a results, the chromosomal DNA unable to renature back correctly.

Restriction Enzyme (or restriction endonuclease) recognizes a specific base pair sequence in DNA called a restriction site and cleaves the DNA within or near that sequence. All restriction enzymes cut DNA between the 3’ carbon and the phosphate moiety of the phosphodiester bond. It can be either in the form of sticky end or blunt end.

It is encouraged to use more than 1 restriction enzyme in the restriction digestion if both enzymes are active in the same buffer and the same incubation temperature. But in this experiment, we are just using only 1 restriction enzyme that is Pst 1. Small amount restriction enzymes are needed in the digestion solution depending on size of the DNA being digested. Larger DNAs should be digested in larger total volumes (between 50 -100µl) and vice versa. Besides that, different enzymes require different buffer solutions. Enzymes will only perform effectively in appropriate pH, salt concentration and temperature. In order to choose the appropriate assay buffer, we need to refer to the vendor’s catalog for the chart of enzyme activity.

Agarose gel electrophoresis is an easy method to separate DNA fragments by their sizes and visualize them. It is a common diagnostic procedure used in molecular biological labs. The technique of electrophoresis is based on the fact that DNA is negatively charged at neutral pH due to its phosphate backbone. For this reason, when an electrical potential is placed on the DNA it will move toward the positive pole. The plasmid was found in many different supercoiled forms in the bacteria. When plasmid was isolated from a bacterial culture, all the different supercoiled forms of the plasmid was isolated, and each will migrate differently on the gel, producing about three major bands and many minor bands. When this mixture of supercoiled plasmids is cut with a restriction enzyme, the different forms linearize and unwind. As a result they all become identical and run at the same rate, and usually only one band seen on the gel.

Elution is a method of quickly purifying agarose gel DNA fragments for use in subsequent reactions such as further restriction enzyme modification, T4 ligase, Taq polymerase, Klenow or polynucleotide kinase. Although higher yields of purified DNA can be obtained from commercially available purification kits, greater ligation efficiencies per given amount of DNA have been seen with the use of spin column.

Apparatus:

Sterile bijou bottle

Autoclaved tips

Bunsen burner

Various sizes Eppendorf tubes (650µl, 1.5ml, 1.7ml, 2.0ml)

Sterile silanized glass wool

Hypodermic needle and syringe

Clean razor blade

Tissue paper

Yellow pipette tips

Materials:

5 ml sterile Luria Broth (LB) media

Agar plate containing single colonies of Bacillus amyloliquenfaciens UMAS 1002

Overnight Bacterial cell culture containing cloned plasmid

DNA genomic samples

Pst 1 restriction endonuclease

Cut and EtBr stained agarose gel containing DNA band

1X TE Buffer10X

Pst 1 Buffer

10mM Tris-CL pH 7.4

1mM EDTA

Sterile ddH2O

10% SDS

20mg/ml Proteinase K

5M NaCl

CTAB/NaCl solution

Chloroform/Isoamyl alcohol (24: 1)

Phenol / Chloroform / Isoamyl Alcohol (25: 24: 1)

Isopropanol

70% Ethanol

Cold Absolute ethanol

Solution I:-

50mM Glucose

1.8M Formic Acid

25mM Tris-HCl, pH8

Solution II:-

0.2M NaOH

1% SDS

Solution III:-

3M KAc (Potassium Acetate)

10mM EDTA, pH 8



睡美人Sleeping Beauty

3月3日星期二,中午3点至5点的一堂课

Tuesday(3/3/2009), while we are attending the Scientific Communication class... This lesson was taught by 1 of our lecture...


我看到我的一位朋友尽然在课堂上睡觉, 而且还是睡到很熟。。。。
I saw 1 of my friend was sleeping while lecturer was given lectures on the hall....

不知道昨天晚上做了什么。。。哈哈。。。 一定是去‘偷鸡’,所以睡眠才不够。。 这一幕就这么巧给我捉到正着。。。

Don know what have he/she doing the previous night..... hahaha.....

其实,早在上个礼拜开始,我们实在是很忙,忙到连睡觉的时间都没有。。。 太多太多的Assignment 及考试。。。 所以呢,我的这个朋友实在是顶不过睡神的诱惑,就盛这个讲师不注意时,这样的一溜,就睡到桌底里去了。。。。

Actually, starting from last week, we are extremely busy until no time for us to sleep... Our sleeping time become lesser and exhausted.... As a results, he/she fell asleep in the class as the class is also too boring.....

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Busy !! Busy Month!!

最近,assignment 一大堆。。。 考试一科接一科的降临。。。

这真的另到我的头很大。。。 忙着安排好我的时间。。。 每科科目的考试时间及assignment 的截至日期都一一记了下来。。。

Recently, my got full mountain of assignment coming non stop... After finished settle and pass up 1 assignment, come again 2-3 new assignment title... Its MAKE CANT BREATH.....

In order not to miss out, I try to manage to manage my time.. Write down the due date of the assignment and the exam period.


看!! 妈的!! 二月及三月的时间都相当的满。。。 似乎每天都排到满满!!
朋友们啊。。。 试问你们在你们的大学的生涯里, 都是这样的忙吗??

See.... My February and March Schedule is Almost Full. Haiz... This is the university life....
I done know how are my friend time schedule in others university.... Is their university life also so compact???


啊啊!! 我快要崩溃了!! 神呀, 救救我吧!!

Mid Term Exam Is Around the Corner

大学的中考已接近了。。。 好怕!!
Mid Term Exam Is Around the Corner

不敢再拖卸, 我就忙着复习我的功课咯。。。 有点压力!!
I started to do my revision.... STRESS!!!

你们看!! 我的笔记都丢满了整床。。。 恩。。。 我要读那一个科目先呢??? Experimental Design?? Gene Manipulation?? Cell and Tissue Culture?? Scientific Communication?? Web Design?? Japanese?? 还是读Music???

Wow, all my notes distributed all around on my bed.... Erm... Which subject should i started to revise first???

加油喔!! 加油!! 加油!!
Let Start!! GAMBATEH!!!




当时间过了许久, 人有点Sien 了。。。 开始一面听歌,一面读书了



Wednesday, February 25, 2009

A very touching Love Story

一个非常感人的爱情故事
A very touching Love Story...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_duTfJRp6E

一位已经死去的17岁少女的刻骨铭心的爱情创作:

故事的情节非常的感人,你们看了也会有所同感...

This story is about a 17 university girl love story. No body know the girl name....But it is confirmed that this girl already die....

The story about the girl getting chronic and uncure disease - very rare skin disease...
She and her boyfriend are very loving each other and they are planning to get married
once after they have graduated from university...

This video clip and the song is created by that girl....

你会如何决择呢??

你会如何决择呢??
How are you going to choose???

你开着一辆车。
在一个暴风雨的晚上。
你经过一个车站。
有三个人正在焦急的等公共汽车。 
一个是快要临死的老人,他需要马上去医院。
一个是医生,他曾救过你的命,你做梦都想报答他。
还有一个女人/男人,她/他是你做梦都想嫁/娶的人,也许错过就没有了。
但你的车只能在坐下一个人,你会如何选择?
我不知道这是不是一个对你性格的测试, 因为每一个回答都有他自己的原因。
老人快要死了,你首先应该先救他。
你也想让那个医生上车,因为他救过你,这是个好机会报答他。
还有就是你的梦中情人。错过了这个机会。你可能永远不能遇到一个让
你这么心动的人了。


In a raining heavily night, you drove car pass by a bus stop at XXX road. You saw 3 person who were waiting for the public bus.
One of them was an old man who has chronic disease and wanna to rush to hospital;
Another 1 of them was a doctor where he had save ur life before;
The last person was your dream lady/ man that you wish to marry with him/ her
Who will u choose to fetch them?? ( Only 1 person that ur car able to accommodate)
An old man who is going to die? OR
A doctor that save ur life before and this is the only chance for u to pay back. OR
A dream ladies/ handsome guy???



Pls leave ur comments....
(Click on comment)....

then we discuss it....
just a sharing