Fish... or not?

In this lab we will be comparing the muscle proteins of many different kinds of fish, determining how closely they are related. We will use protein gel electrophoresis to compare their "fingerprints". By looking at the gel we will be able to determine identify similarities and differences in the fish and their ancestors, or similar species. Each band in the gel will identify a shared characteristic with another type of fish. The muscle proteins of a fish are made up of actin and myosin, along with numerous other muscle tissues.

In this lab we will be grinding up or denaturing the muscle proteins of six different species by putting them in a buffer and then putting them into a 95 degree water bath to denature the proteins, actin and myosin. We will then run the samples on a gel and return the next day to examine the results.

The Passing Along of Mitochondria

In every person there is a set of 46 chromosomes, but in addition to that there is mitochondrial DNA in every human being. Each person's mitochondria has several copies of its own genome. This genome contains 37 genes and is passed to the child through their mother. The mitochondria provides a means to extract energy using oxygen. The mitochondria is in general the same size as bacteria and is circularly shaped.


The mitochondria provides a means to extract energy using oxygen. In this lab, we will extract our DNA the same way we did for the Disease Gene lab, involving saline solution, instagene matrix, and PCR. We will also be using mitochondrial DNA and primers to bracket the mt  control region, which will only copy the the specific section of DNA. Next, we will do the same gel electrophoresis that was done in the previous lab to tell us if our mitochondrial DNA is similar.