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Genetics (BIOL 324)

Genetics is an Honors course I took as one of the required courses for my major in Biology. This course was without a doubt one of my more intensive and time consuming, due to the Honors’ project completed throughout the semester. I chose the following artifact below because it reflects the many complications that come from conducting and planning a study and how one should deal with setbacks.

Our study was focused on inserting specific genes into bacteria using genetic techniques learned in lab. These specific genes were chosen to successfully have the bacteria react (glow a neon color) to certain metal contaminants in water. During one lab procedure of the study, we had unknowingly extracted the wrong genes (biobricks) and introduced them to the bacteria which resulted in the bacteria not having the desired results. Our instructor soon discovered the problem and had us research the genes wrongly used, for a report on how these genes functioned and why they did not give us the desired results in the bacteria. This artifact was significant to me because it made me not only acknowledge the mistake made but forced me to go deeper into why the results were as they were, an important part of every study. This taught me to always go into more detail and never skip the question why for any results in a study.

 

Below is a copy of my report for the wrong biobricks used and the impact each one had on the experiment.