Team:University College London/LabBook/Week7

From 2012.igem.org

Contents

Monday (23.7.12)

Aim - Picking colonies: On Friday 20.7.12 we found that the transformation for BBa_J23119, BBa_I750016, BBa_B0015, and BBa_B0034 all produced colonies and were suitable for colony picking.

Picking Colonies
Step 1 – Creating culture media: In a sterile environment, set up X numbers of falcons, each with 5mls of media.


Step 2 - Inoculating Colonies into a Selective Broth:: Add Yul of antibiotic to reach desired antibiotic concentration.


(For Ampicillin this is 50ug/ml, For Kanamycin it is 25ug/ml, for Tetracycline it is 15ug/ml, and for Chloramphenicol it is 25ug/ml)


Step 4 – Selecting a Colony: Select a clear, isolated colony and using an inoculation hoop scoop up a colony onto the tip. Deposit in the falcon tube


Step 5 - Culture: Culture your falcon tubes overnight at a temperature of 37 oC. Leave for no longer than 16 hours.

Step 2 – Inoculating Colonies into a Selective Broth: The table below indicates the volume of broth and the concentration of antibiotic required for each BioBrick.

Samples Volume Inoculated Broth (ml) Antibiotic (ug/ml)
BioBrick BBa_J23119 10ul Lysogeny Broth (5) Ampicillin(50ug/ml)
90ul
BBa_I750016 10ul
90ul
BBa_B0015 10ul
90ul
BBa_B0034 10ul
90ul


Tuesday 24.7.12

Aim – Results from Colony Picking

Results: The table below indicates whether there was growth for the BioBricks


Samples Volume Inoculated Growth
BioBrick BBa_J23119 10μl Yes
90μl Yes
BBa_I750016 10μl No
90μl No
BBa_B0015 10μl Yes
90μl Yes
BBa_B0034 10μl No
90μl No


Conclusion: We concluded that the failure of BBa_I750016 and BBa_B0034 is not necessarily due to failed transformation, as there was an unusual degree difficulty Picking the colonies 23.7.12. From this, it is possible that colonies were not properly inoculated, and so this requires a repeat. BBa_J23119 and BBa_B0015 however appeared sufficient for the protocol to be continued


Miniprep of Samples

Miniprep Protocol 1 (Qiagen)
Step 1 - Pellet Cells: Pellet 1-5ml bacterial overnight culture by centrifugation at >8000rpm (68800 x g) for 3 min at room temperature (15-25oC)

Step 2 - Resuspend Cells: Resuspend pelleted bacterial cells in 250ul Buffer P1 and transfer to a microcentrifuge tube

Step 3 - Puncturing Cell Membrane: Add 250ul Buffer P2 and mix thoroughly by inverting the tube 4-6 times until the solution becomes clear. Do not allow the lysis reaction to proceed for more than 5 min.

Step 4 - Neutralising buffer P2: Add 350ul Buffer N3 and mix immediately and thoroughly by inverting the tube 4-6 times.

Step 5 - Centrifuge:

RPM: 13000

Time:10 minutes

Temperature: 18oC

Step 6 - Centrifuge: Apply the supernatant from step 5 to the QIAprep spin column by decanting or pipetting. Centrifuge for 30-60s and discard the flow-through.

Step 7 - Remove Endonucleases from Sample: Wash the QIAprep spin column by adding 500ul of Buffer PB. Centrifuge for 30-60s and discard flow-through.

Step 8 - Remove salts from sample: Wash the QIAprep spin column by adding 750ul of Buffer PE. Centrifuge for 3-60s and discard flow through.

Step 9 - Centrifuge:

RPM: 13000

Time:1 minute

Temperature: 18oC

Step 10 - Elute DNA: Place the QIAprep column in a clean 1.5ml microcentrifuge tube. To elute DNA, add 50ul Buffer EB to the centre of the spin column, let it stand for 1 min, and centrifuge for 1 min.


The above protocol was done only for J23119 and B0015 – three stocks of each, originating from each of the three replicate falcon tubes


Restriction Digest and Gel Electrophoresis of Samples

Restriction Enzyme Digest Protocol 1

Step 1 - Thawing cells: Thaw all materials on ice

Step 2 - Adding Ingredient: Add the following ingredients to autoclaved/sterile eppendorf tubes

Component Amount (ul) (one enzyme used) Amount (ul) (two enzymes used)
dH20 2.5 1.5
Buffer 1x 1 1
DNA template 5 5
BSA 0.5 0.5
Enzyme 1 1 2
Enzyme 2 N/A 1


Step 3 - Addition of BioBrick: Flick contents gently and centrifuge.

Step 4 - Centrifuge:

RPM: 14000

Time: 1 minute

Temperature: 18oC

Step 5 - Digest Program: Place the samples on a thermocycler under the following conditions:

RPM: 550

Time: 2.5 hours

Temperature: 37oC

Step 6 - Denaturing Enzymes: If you are not running the samples on a gel immediately, denature the restriction enzymes by running the samples on a thermocycler under the following conditions:

RPM: 550

Time: 25 minutes

Temperature: 65oC



Step 2: Set up Reaction 1(Plasmid) and Reaction 2 (Control) for both the miniprepped BioBricks.

Samples Recipe Enzymes
BioBrick BBa_J23119 Digested Plasmid Xba1 & Spe1
Undigested Plasmid (Control) None
BBa_B0015 Digested Plasmid Xba1 & Spe1
Undigested Plasmid (Control) None

Results: The gel demonstrated no bands for the plasmid and the uncut DNA, which would suggest that there is a low concentration of the plasmid. Therefore we undertook a Nanodrop of the sample.

Nanodrop Protocol

Software ND-1000 Model:

Step 1: Initialise the spectrophotometer by pipetting 1 µ of clean water onto lower optic surface, lowering the lever arm and selecting ‘initialise’ in the ND-1000 software

Step 2: Wipe and add elution buffer as negative control. Click blank in ND-1000 software

Step 3: Wipe and add 1 µl sample

Step 4: On the software set lambda to 260nm

Step 5: Lower the lever arm and click measure in ND-1000 software

Step 6: Take readings for concentration and purity

Step 7: Once measurement complete, wipe surface

Results

BioBrick λ260 λ 280
BBa_J23119 (ng/μl) 24.8 26.1
BBa_B0015 (ng/μl) 41.7 56.6

Conclusion: The concentration of these plasmids is very low

Monday 23.7.12

Aim - Transformation of TetR BBa_C0040 BioBrick

Transformation Protocol 3

Step 1 - Thawing Cells: Thaw competent cells on ice.

Step 2 - Adding cells: Add 50 µL of thawed competent cells into pre-chilled 2ml tube.

Step 3 - Addition of BioBrick: Add 1 - 2 µL of the resuspended DNA to the 2ml tube. Pipette up and down a few times, gently. Make sure to keep the competent cells on ice.

Step 4 - Incubation: Close tube and incubate the cells on ice for 30 minutes.

Step 5 - Heat Shock: Heat shock the cells by immersion in a pre-heated water bath at 42ºC for 60 seconds.

Step 6 - Incubation: Incubate the cells on ice for 5 minutes.

Step 7 - Add media: Add 200 μl of SOC media or LB broth

Step 8 - Incubation: Incubate the cells at 37ºC for 2 hours while the tubes are rotating or shaking. 

Step 9 - Label plates: Label two petri dishes with LB agar and the appropriate antibiotic(s) with the part number, plasmid backbone, and antibiotic resistance. Plate 20 µl and 200 µl of the transformation onto the dishes, and spread. This helps ensure that you will be able to pick out a single colony.

Step 10 - Culture:Incubate the plate at 37ºC for 12-14 hours, making sure the agar side of the plate is up. If incubated for too long the antibiotics start to break down and un-transformed cells will begin to grow. This is especially true for ampicillin - because the resistance enzyme is excreted by the bacteria, and inactivates the antibiotic outside of the bacteria.

Step 11 - Colony Picking: You can pick a single colony, make a glycerol stock, grow up a cell culture and miniprep.

Step 1 – Thawing Cells: Use W3110 cell line created in Week 2 (Expt 2.1)

Step 3 – Addition of BioBrick: To a 2ml eppendorf, add 1ul of the following BioBricks. Note: we have changed the protocol for our positive control. Previously it contained no BioBrick, but it has been recommended to us that we transform our positive control such that there is one for each BioBrick – this will tell us if the BioBrick has in any way affected cell viability. This will be used from this point onwards. Include an extra tube as a negative control, with no BioBrick added

Samples Function Module
BioBrick BBa_C0040 Tetracycline Repressor Buoyancy
Control Positive (Contains BioBrick BBa_C0040)
Negative (No Biobrick)

Step 9 - Plating samples on Agar Plates: The table below indicates the chosen inoculation volume (two for each BioBrick) and the correct gel antibiotic concentration for all samples.

Samples Volume Inoculated Antibiotic in Gel (μg/ml)
BioBrick BBa_C0040 10μl Ampicillin(50ug/ml)
90μl
Control Positive (Contains BioBrick BBa_C0040) 36μl No Antibiotic
Negative (No BioBrick) 36μl 2x Ampicillin(50μg/ml)


Tuesday 24.7.12

Aim - Results of Transformation

Result: The table below indicates that there was growth for this transformation.

Samples Volume Inoculated Colony Formation
BioBrick BBa_C0040 10ul Yes
90ul Yes
Control Positive (Contains BioBrick BBa_C0040) 36ul Yes
Negative (No BioBrick) 36ul No


Monday 23.7.12

Aim - Repeat Restriction Digest for BioBricks in Expt 4.1 and 5.1, where the gel previously was inconclusive: This is intended to diagnose whether the correct plasmid had been transformed into our bacteria, by measuring the size of the digested products against a DNA ladder. In previous gel attempts, K540000 has produced a band of the correct size, but we are repeating it because of the presence of other unexpected bands, which we expect are contaminants from the reaction. A previous restriction digest of BBa_I13522 has failed to produce a band of the correct size, so we are repeating the digest before considering another transformation. For the same reason, we are repeating the digest of BBa_K398108, which produced bands of incorrect size, which is suggestive of contamination.

Restriction Enzyme Digest Protocol 1

Step 1 - Thawing cells: Thaw all materials on ice

Step 2 - Adding Ingredient: Add the following ingredients to autoclaved/sterile eppendorf tubes

Component Amount (ul) (one enzyme used) Amount (ul) (two enzymes used)
dH20 2.5 1.5
Buffer 1x 1 1
DNA template 5 5
BSA 0.5 0.5
Enzyme 1 1 2
Enzyme 2 N/A 1


Step 3 - Addition of BioBrick: Flick contents gently and centrifuge.

Step 4 - Centrifuge:

RPM: 14000

Time: 1 minute

Temperature: 18oC

Step 5 - Digest Program: Place the samples on a thermocycler under the following conditions:

RPM: 550

Time: 2.5 hours

Temperature: 37oC

Step 6 - Denaturing Enzymes: If you are not running the samples on a gel immediately, denature the restriction enzymes by running the samples on a thermocycler under the following conditions:

RPM: 550

Time: 25 minutes

Temperature: 65oC


Step 2: Set up as follows

Samples Recipe Enzymes
BioBricks BBa_K540000 (Expt 4.1) Digested Xbar 1 & Spe1
BBa_I13522 (Expt 4.1) Digested Xbar 1 & Spe1
BBa_K398108 (Expt 5.1) Digested Xbar 1 & Spe1
BBa_KI23003 (Expt 5.1) Digested Xbar 1 & Spe1


Electrophoresis Protocol

Preparing the Gel

Step 1: Within a conical flask, add 3ml 50X TAE, 1.5g Agarose, and 150ml RO water

Step 2: Heat for 1 min in microwave. Swirl. Heat again for 30s. If solution is clear stop. Else repeat.

Step 3: Cool solution under running cold water.

Step 4: Add 20ul ethidium bromide (normal concentration of EB solution is 500ug/ul)

Step 5: Pour into a sealed casting tray in a slow steady stream, ensuring there are no bubbles

Running a gel

Step 6: Add 1 part loading buffer to five parts of loading sample

Step 7: Position the gel in the tank and add TAE buffer, enough to cover the gel by several mm

Step 8: Add 5ul of DNA ladder to lane 1

Step 9: Add samples to the remaining wells

Step 10: Run at 100 volts for 1hour and 15 minutes

Imaging the Gel

Step 11: Place gel in GelDoc 2000 chamber

Step 12: Turn GelDoc 2000 chamber on 

Step 13: From computer: Quantity One > Scanner > Gel_Doc_Xr>Manuqal Acquire

Step 14: Alter the exposure/settings to give a clear image.

TAE - Tris-acetate-EDTA

EDTA - ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid

Results: The image below shows a 1% Agarose Gel of an Analytical Restriction Enzyme Digest for Expt 7.2. Visible in Lane 1 is a product of the correct size for the BBa_K540000 insert (3123bp), as indicated by A. Also shown is a correct sized product for the backbone pSB1C3 (2070bp), as indicated by B. Lane 2 shows a product corresponding to the size of the BBa_I13522 insert (937bp) as indicated by C. Also present is a product corresponding to the size of the pSB1A3 backbone (2155bp) as indicated by D. Lane 3 has a product corresponding to the expected size of insert BBa_K398108 (844bp) as indicated by E, and a product of the expected size for the plasmid backbone pSB1C3 (2070bp) as indicated by F. Lane 4 shows no products, where we would expect a product of size 1849bp (indicated by G) and a product of 2155 (indicated by H).



Conclusion: Plasmids BBa_K540000 (3123), BBa_I13522 (937) and BBa_K398108 (844) have produced bands of the correct size. The band at 2000 is the plasmid backbone. The failure of BBa_K123003 to produce a band is not of great concern, as we do not expect we will require this BioBrick. However, we may repeat it at a later date.


Friday 3.8.12

Aim - Check results of Transformation: The table below indicates whether there was growth on the Agar Plates after Transformation.


Samples Volume Inoculated Colony Formation
BioBrick BBa_J23100 10ul Yes
90ul Yes
BioBrick BBa_J23106 10ul Yes
90ul Yes
BioBrick BBa_B0030 10ul Yes
90ul Yes
BioBrick BBa_I750016 10ul Yes
90ul Yes
Control Positive 36ul Yes
Negative (No BioBrick) 36ul Yes


Tuesday 24.7.12

Aim - Colony Picking from unsuccessful colonies for Expt 7.1 and 6.3


Picking Colonies Protocol
Step 1 – Creating culture media: In a sterile environment, set up X numbers of falcons, each with 5mls of media.


Step 2 - Inoculating Colonies into a Selective Broth:: Add Yul of antibiotic to reach desired antibiotic concentration.


(For Ampicillin this is 50ug/ml, For Kanamycin it is 25ug/ml, for Tetracycline it is 15ug/ml, and for Chloramphenicol it is 25ug/ml)


Step 4 – Selecting a Colony: Select a clear, isolated colony and using an inoculation hoop scoop up a colony onto the tip. Deposit in the falcon tube


Step 5 - Culture: Culture your falcon tubes overnight at a temperature of 37 oC. Leave for no longer than 16 hours.

Step 2 – Inoculating Colonies into a Selective Broth: The table below indicates the volume of broth and the concentration of antibiotic required for each BioBrick.

Samples Number of Falcons Broth Antibiotic
Biobrick BBa_C0040 3 Lysogeny Broth (5ml) Ampicillin(50ug/ml)
BBa_I750016 4
BBa_B0034 5
BBa_B0015 3
BBa_J23119 2


Wednesday 23.7.12

Aim - Results from Colony Picking


Results:

Samples Number of Falcons Growth
BioBrick BBa_C0040 3 None
BBa_I750016 4 None
BBa_B0034 5 Growth in one
BBa_B0015 3 Growth
BBa_J23119 2 Growth

Conclusion: We are beginning to consider other possibilities for the failure of Colony Picking in Expt 7.1 and Expt 6.3. Foremost, we believe it may be due to the addition of Ampicillin to the Agar before it has cooled sufficiently, leading to degradation of the antibiotic. This would reduce the selective pressure, and allow growth of colonies that are not Ampicillin-resistant. Subsequent inoculation into Amipicillin positive LB broth leads to failed growth. Those BioBricks that have worked will undergo Miniprep, Restriction Enzyme Digests and Nanodrop.

Method

Miniprep:

Miniprep Protocol 1 (Qiagen)
Step 1 - Pellet Cells: Pellet 1-5ml bacterial overnight culture by centrifugation at >8000rpm (68800 x g) for 3 min at room temperature (15-25oC)

Step 2 - Resuspend Cells: Resuspend pelleted bacterial cells in 250ul Buffer P1 and transfer to a microcentrifuge tube

Step 3 - Puncturing Cell Membrane: Add 250ul Buffer P2 and mix thoroughly by inverting the tube 4-6 times until the solution becomes clear. Do not allow the lysis reaction to proceed for more than 5 min.

Step 4 - Neutralising buffer P2: Add 350ul Buffer N3 and mix immediately and thoroughly by inverting the tube 4-6 times.

Step 5 - Centrifuge:

RPM: 13000

Time:10 minutes

Temperature: 18oC

Step 6 - Centrifuge: Apply the supernatant from step 5 to the QIAprep spin column by decanting or pipetting. Centrifuge for 30-60s and discard the flow-through.

Step 7 - Remove Endonucleases from Sample: Wash the QIAprep spin column by adding 500ul of Buffer PB. Centrifuge for 30-60s and discard flow-through.

Step 8 - Remove salts from sample: Wash the QIAprep spin column by adding 750ul of Buffer PE. Centrifuge for 3-60s and discard flow through.

Step 9 - Centrifuge:

RPM: 13000

Time:1 minute

Temperature: 18oC

Step 10 - Elute DNA: Place the QIAprep column in a clean 1.5ml microcentrifuge tube. To elute DNA, add 50ul Buffer EB to the centre of the spin column, let it stand for 1 min, and centrifuge for 1 min.


Step 1: Set up an eppendorf as follows

Step 1: Used 2mls

Step 8: Step 8 had to be missed because we realised too late we had too little PE buffer remaining.


Restriction Digest:

Restriction Enzyme Digest Protocol 1

Step 1 - Thawing cells: Thaw all materials on ice

Step 2 - Adding Ingredient: Add the following ingredients to autoclaved/sterile eppendorf tubes

Component Amount (ul) (one enzyme used) Amount (ul) (two enzymes used)
dH20 2.5 1.5
Buffer 1x 1 1
DNA template 5 5
BSA 0.5 0.5
Enzyme 1 1 2
Enzyme 2 N/A 1


Step 3 - Addition of BioBrick: Flick contents gently and centrifuge.

Step 4 - Centrifuge:

RPM: 14000

Time: 1 minute

Temperature: 18oC

Step 5 - Digest Program: Place the samples on a thermocycler under the following conditions:

RPM: 550

Time: 2.5 hours

Temperature: 37oC

Step 6 - Denaturing Enzymes: If you are not running the samples on a gel immediately, denature the restriction enzymes by running the samples on a thermocycler under the following conditions:

RPM: 550

Time: 25 minutes

Temperature: 65oC


Step 2 - Setting up Digests and Controls: The protocol describes the recipe for (i) Digested Plasmid and (ii) Uncut Control. The table below indicates that an uncut and an Xcar1/Spe1 digested sample be set up for each BioBrick. Set up Eppendorfs as follows


Samples Recipe Enzymes
BioBrick BBa_J23119 Digested Plasmid Xba1 & Spe1
Undigested Plasmid (Control) None
BBa_B0015 Digested Plasmid Xba1 & Spe1
Undigested Plasmid (Control) None
BBa_B0034 Digested Plasmid Xba1 & Spe1
Undigested Plasmid (Control) None

Electrophoresis Protocol

Preparing the Gel

Step 1: Within a conical flask, add 3ml 50X TAE, 1.5g Agarose, and 150ml RO water

Step 2: Heat for 1 min in microwave. Swirl. Heat again for 30s. If solution is clear stop. Else repeat.

Step 3: Cool solution under running cold water.

Step 4: Add 20ul ethidium bromide (normal concentration of EB solution is 500ug/ul)

Step 5: Pour into a sealed casting tray in a slow steady stream, ensuring there are no bubbles

Running a gel

Step 6: Add 1 part loading buffer to five parts of loading sample

Step 7: Position the gel in the tank and add TAE buffer, enough to cover the gel by several mm

Step 8: Add 5ul of DNA ladder to lane 1

Step 9: Add samples to the remaining wells

Step 10: Run at 100 volts for 1hour and 15 minutes

Imaging the Gel

Step 11: Place gel in GelDoc 2000 chamber

Step 12: Turn GelDoc 2000 chamber on 

Step 13: From computer: Quantity One > Scanner > Gel_Doc_Xr>Manuqal Acquire

Step 14: Alter the exposure/settings to give a clear image.

TAE - Tris-acetate-EDTA

EDTA - ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid

Results: The image below shows a 1% Agarose Gel of an Analytical Restriction Enzyme Digest for Expt 7.2. Visible in Lane 1 is a band corresponding to the Plasmid Backbone pSB1A2 (2079bp) as show by A, but it is not possible to detect our BBa_J23119 insert on this gel, as it is just 35bp long. Lane 2 shows the uncut plasmid for BBa_J23119 (shown by B) but the size difference between A and B appears to large for BBa_J23119 to have been the insert. This will require further investigation. Lane 3 shows a product 129bp long (indicated by C) which is the correct size for our insert BBa_B0015. A stronger band is also visible, indicated by D, which corresponds to the plasmid backbone pSB1AK3 (3189bp). Lane 4 displays a product which is somewhat larger than the expected size for the uncut plasmid (3318bp) as indicated by E. Lane 5 displays the correct product for the pSB1A2 backbone (2079bp) as indicated by F, but the extremely small size of the BBa_B0034 insert (12bp) means that it cannot be detect on this gel. Lane 6 indicates a band larger than expected, and does not correspond to the size of the uncut plasmid (2091bp) as shown by G.


Conclusion: The BBa_B0015 transformation was a success. However, with regard BBa_J23119, we feel that the difference in the product size of A (pSB1A2 plasmid backbone) and B (uncut plasmid) raises concerns as to whether the insert could be as short as 35bp. However, we must also consider the secondary effects had by the conformation of an uncut plasmid on its migration through the gel. It is possible this is sufficient to misplace the plasmid, such that its position does not represent its size. Even without this possibility, however, it would not be possible to determine whether there was a 35bp difference on such a crude scale of ladder. Instead we will reattempt the Analysis against a 25bp ladder, with the intention of detecting the insert. (See Expt 8.1). We have similar concerns for BBa_B0034, and so this too will be run against a 25bp ladder.

Nanodrop:

Nanodrop Protocol

Software ND-1000 Model:

Step 1: Initialise the spectrophotometer by pipetting 1 µ of clean water onto lower optic surface, lowering the lever arm and selecting ‘initialise’ in the ND-1000 software

Step 2: Wipe and add elution buffer as negative control. Click blank in ND-1000 software

Step 3: Wipe and add 1 µl sample

Step 4: On the software set lambda to 260nm

Step 5: Lower the lever arm and click measure in ND-1000 software

Step 6: Take readings for concentration and purity

Step 7: Once measurement complete, wipe surface

BioBrick λ260 λ 280
BBa_J23119 (ng/μl) 77.6 71.8
BBa_B0034 (ng/μl) 70 71.2
BBa_B0015 (ng/μl) 128.9 128

Thursday 26.7.12

Aim - Transformation of previously failed BioBricks: BBa_I750016 was previously grown on an Agar Plate (Expt 6.3) but failed to produce growth after colony picking. BBa_C0040 was previously grown on an Agar Plate (Expt 7.1) but also failed to produce growth after colony picking. R0040 failed to produce colonies in Expt 5.1.


Method:

Transformation Protocol 1

Step 1 - Addition of BioBrick: To the still frozen competent cells, add 1 - 5 µL of the resuspended DNA to the 2ml tube.

Step 4 - Incubation: Close tube and incubate the cells on ice for 45 minutes.

Step 5 - Heat Shock: Heat shock the cells by immersion in a pre-heated water bath at 37ºC for 10 minutes.

Step 6 - Incubation: Incubate the cells on ice for 2 minutes.

Step 7 - Add media: Add 1.5ml of Lysogeny Broth and transfer to a falcon tube.

Step 8 - Incubation: Incubate the cells at 37ºC for 1 hour at RPM 550. 

Step 9 - Transfer: transfer the solution back into a 1.5ml Eppendorf and centrifuge

RPM: 14000

Time: 2 minutes

Temperature (18-25oC)

Step 10 - Resuspend:Remove supernatant and resuspend in 100ul LB

Step 11 - Plating: Spread the resuspended cell solution onto a selective nutrient agar plate. Place the plates in a 37°C static incubator, leave overnight (alternatively a 30°C static incubator over the weekend)


Step 1 – Thawing Cells: Use W3110 cell line created in Week 2 (Expt 2.1)

Step 3 – Addition of BioBrick: To each 2ml eppendorf, add 1ul of the following BioBricks. Include an extra tube as a control, with no BioBrick added

Function Module
BioBrick BBa_I750016 Gas Vesicle Polycistronic Cluster Buoyancy
BBa_C0040 Tetracycline Repressor Buoyancy
BBa_R0040 TetR Repressible Promoter Buoyancy
Control Positive (one for each of the above BioBricks)
Negative (No BioBrick)

Step 9 – Plating samples on Agar Plates: The table below indicates the chosen inoculation volume (two for each BioBrick) and the correct gel antibiotic concentration for all samples.(Extra caution was taken to allow agar to cool before adding Ampicillin, in case this is the cause of difficulty).

Samples Volume Inoculated Antibiotic in Gel (ug/ml)
BioBrick BBa_I750016 10ul Ampicillin(50ug/ml)
90ul
BBa_C0040 10ul
90ul
BBa_R0040 10ul
90ul
Control Positive (Contains BioBrick BBa_C0040) 36ul No Antibiotic
Negative (No BioBrick) 36ul 1x Ampicillin(50ug/ml)


Friday 27.7.12

Aim - Check results of Transformation: The table below indicates whether there was growth on the Agar Plates after Transformation. Included below are images of the Agar Plates for each BioBrick.

Samples Volume Inoculated Colony Formation
BioBrick BBa_I750016 10ul No
90ul No
BioBrick BBa_C0040 10ul Yes
90ul Yes
BioBrick BBa_R0040 10ul Yes
90ul Yes
Control Positive (Contains BioBrick BBa_C0040) 36ul Yes
Negative (No BioBrick) 36ul No


Conclusion: Given there was growth on the negative control we are wary of our results. We feel the contamination was not a result of any of our materials, but rather the pattern of spread on the agar is suggestive of a contaminant entering during spreading. A similar pattern is seen on our BBa_C0040 plates, and so it is likely we will repeat these. A very different pattern was observed on the BBa_I750016 agars, and so we will carry out an analytical digest to determine whether it has been transformed correctly.