Lab/Research

Question 1

Southern Blot

Answer 1

DNA

remember SNoW DRoP

Question 2

Northern Blot

Answer 2

RNA

larger molecules will remain at the top while smaller molecules drift to the bottom

Question 3

Western Blot

Answer 3

Proteins; uses labeled antibodies to detect specific proteins after gel electrophoresis (moves by size)

Question 4

reporter gene

Answer 4

researchers attach to regulatory sequence of another gene of interest to detect gene expression

can be used to determine whether transfection was successful

Question 5

transfection

Answer 5

incorporation of foreign genetic material into animal cells

Question 6

positive control

Answer 6

tests validity and allows researchers to ensure that dependent variables are present and that independent variables function properly

shows that the experiment works

demonstrates the results of an experiment when the independent variable has the maximum possible effect on the dependent variable

ex: want to test whether plants will grow with coffee
positive control: give plants water and see how they grow

Question 7

negative control

Answer 7

group that does not receive any treatment so can show that the experiment won’t happen on its own

Shows what the results would look like if the independent variable had no effect

ex: wanting to test whether plants grow when given coffee
negative control: don’t water at all and see the plants die

Question 8

RT-PCR

Answer 8

reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction

converts mRNA –> cDNA where it will be replicated into thousands of copies in PCR