Students are given a practical use for the electrophoresis process in this assessment of the spread of an exotic species of mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis. During this 9-day lab, they use these sophisticated electrophoresis techniques to identify the mussel from its DNA fingerprint, which is the only way of separating this cryptic species from native species found in the San Juan Islands. In addition to doing a field survey to collect specimens, students will spend time in the lab learning how to use micropipettes and electrophoresis chambers, prepare a PCR cycler solution, make agarose gels and read stained DNA gels. The DNA fingerprint also allows students to identify hybrids of the two species. Their data are combined with data from a replicate of the project undertaken at the Spring Street International School. The results are sent to University of Puget Sound to be compiled with their Puget Sound wide study.
The IMP project begins with a broad overview of the project. Students are tasked with creating a flowchart to help absorb the extensive and complicated procedures that the IMP project entails. Some examples are shown here.
Materials
Students working on the IMP project use a variety of advanced scientific tools, shown in the pictures above. Materials include precision micropippeters, agarose gel casts, electrophoresis chambers and specialized gel viewing chambers designed to filter out blue light to highlight DNA fingerprints.
Results
