Bacterial Identification Virtual Lab

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Topic

Resource Type

Level

High School — General High School — AP/IB College

Saved By

90 Users

Description

This interactive, modular lab explores the techniques used to identify different types of bacteria based on their DNA sequences.

In this lab, students prepare and analyze a virtual bacterial DNA sample. In the process, they learn about several common molecular biology methods, including DNA extraction, PCR, gel electrophoresis, and DNA sequencing and analysis. These methods are applicable in a wide variety of settings, including scientific research and forensic labs.

The lab contains an interactive lab space and an informational notebook with detailed procedures. It also includes supplementary resources, such as a glossary of scientific terms, images of equipment and tools, and an encyclopedia of bacteria.

The accompanying worksheet provides structure and guidance as students perform the procedures in the lab.

The “Resource Google Folder” link directs to a Google Drive folder of resource documents in the Google Docs format. Not all downloadable documents for the resource may be available in this format. The Google Drive folder is set as “View Only”; to save a copy of a document in this folder to your Google Drive, open that document, then select File → “Make a copy.” These documents can be copied, modified, and distributed online following the Terms of Use listed in the “Details” section below, including crediting BioInteractive.

Student Learning Targets

Explain how bacteria can be identified using 16S rDNA sequences.
Describe the steps for isolating, copying, and sequencing a DNA sample.

Estimated Time

One to several 50-minute class periods, depending on which sections are used.

Key Terms

16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA), bioinformatics, BLAST search, DNA extraction, gel electrophoresis, laboratory technique, pathology, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), sequencing

Terms of Use

The resource is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. No rights are granted to use HHMI’s or BioInteractive’s names or logos independent from this Resource or in any derivative works.

Version History

Date Published 02.27.99

Date Updated 10.27.22

NGSS (2013)

HS-LS1-1, HS-LS3-1, HS-LS4-1; SEP2, SEP3

AP Biology (2019)

IST-1.L, IST-1.N, IST-1.O, IST-1.P, SYI-1.D; SP2, SP3

IB Biology (2016)

5.3, 6.3, 11.1, B.4, B.5

Common Core (2010)

ELA.RST.9–12.2, ELA.RST.9–12.4, ELA.RST.9–12.3, ELA.WHST.9–12.1
Math.A-REI.3; MP2, MP3

Vision and Change (2009)

CC1, CC5; DP1, DP3, DP4, DP6

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Bacterial ID Virtual Lab

Sherry Annee describes how she uses the Bacterial Identification Virtual Lab to introduce the concepts of DNA sequencing, PCR, and BLAST database searches to her students.