100% Success Rate

AP biology teachers Krista Willertz shares about a recent experiment. "The class performed step one of transforming bacteria using the gene from certain jellyfish that glow in the dark. The pGLO gene was introduced to E. coli bacteria using plasmids and a heat shock procedure. Cultures were left overnight to see if the bacteria would take up the plasmid and express the gene, causing them to glow in the dark.

AP biology students checked their genetically transformed bacteria on day two, and 100 percent of the eight groups performed the procedure perfectly to get their E. coli bacteria to take up the foreign pGLO plasmid and express the gene that produces the glow in the dark protein. Excellent job! This procedure typically has a 75-80 percent success rate. Our EC students demonstrated just how special they are with their perfect success rate!"