DNA Microarray Virtual Lab

DNA MICROARRAY

TEACHING OBJECTIVE:

• Observe a high-tech lab technique in action in this excellent Flash application, whilst learning how cancer cells and healthy cells express genes differently.

TASK OUTCOMES:

• By the end of this activity, students will be able to:
  • describe the function and origin of the DNA Microarray
  • perform a simple virtual lab to compare the microarrays of healthy cells and cancer cells
  • illustrate how cancer cells express genes differently to healthy cells
  • Explain the function of reverse transcriptase in a biotechnological application

TIME REQUIRED:

• 20-30 minutes

---

INTRODUCTION:

In this excellent Flash application from learn.genetics (Utah university), students are introduced to the 'new' science of genomics and are shown how a DNA microarray works. Thay are then instructed to carry out a virtual microarray that illustrates the genetic difference between a healthy skin cell and a melanoma cell. Students can use this task as a means to learn about genomics and the use of reverse transcriptase and to revise protein synthesis.

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT:

• DNA Microarray virtual lab from [1]

• Teacher-set questions

OTHER RESOURCES NEEDED:

• Individual access to computers is beneficial
• Internet connection
• Macromedia Flash Player (latest version)

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Send students to the learn.genetics homepage and ask them to find the DNA microarray in the virtual labs section.
• Students complete the microarray learning excercise individually.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS

• What is the main difference between Genetics and Genomics? (scale of work and time consumption)

• Which of the following statements are true?
  • An erythrocyte and a skin cell in the same body contain the same DNA. (T)
  • Different genes are expressed in different cell types within the same organism. (T)
  • Gene expression can be observed as production of tRNA. (F - mRNA)
  • Each spot on a Microarray represents one gene. (T)
  • A cancer cell will express most of the same genes as a healthy cell. (T)
  • Reverse transcriptase makes a new strand of RNA. (F - it makes copy DNA (cDNA))

• Produce a flow-chart of the process of a microarray

• If a gene is not expressed, what would you expect to see on a microarray scan?
  • green marker
  • red marker
  • yellow marker
  • no marker (T)

---

IDEAS FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION

• learn.genetics has a number of excellent Flash applications and podcasts suitable for DP Biology.

---

SOURCES AND REFERENCES:

• wikipedia: DNA Microarray

• learn.genetics at the University of Utah

Wikimedia

• w: DNA separation by silica adsorption

See also

• Genetics
• Genetic engineering