TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES

DNA Fingerprinting

Intoducing the microLiter!

A TINY amount…a millionth of a LiterVery difficult to measure because it is SOOO

smallIncredibly accurate when measured correctly

Tools that measure these amounts are therefore INCREDIBLY expensive…be VERY careful with them!!!

If a milliliter (mL) is 1/1000 of a Liter… A microliter (μl) is 1/1000 of a millileter (mL) The greek letter “mu” is used to represent micro (μ)

Let’s PRACTICE Work through the second page of the packet

“DNA Fingerprinting – Practice Worksheet”

The TOOLS

DNA Fingerprinting makes use of tools that can work with incredibly SMALL volumes We only need a very small sample of DNA We can run hundreds or thousands of samples at once

in small spaces We can be INCREDIBLY accurate and precise We can use robotic assistance to run the full analysis

The Micropipette

Are like a normal pipette…but better

They can hold incredibly small amounts of liquid with incredibly high accuracy and precision This makes them VERY

expensive!!!Two types that we will use:

P20: Can hold up to 20 μl P200: Can hold up to 200 μl

Draw and label a picture to refer back to:

Setting the Micropipette

Each micropipette has a dial for its particular volume maximum NEVER set the dial above the MAXIMUM listed, this

will damage the micropipette For a p20…NEVER set above 20

The three numbers represent the three place values Starting with the largest POSSIBLE place value

Let’s PRACTICE with the second half of practice worksheet

Techniques for Using Tips

NEVER TILT THE PIPETTE!!!NEVER USE A NAKED PIPETTE!!!

We use tips to hold liquid, not the pipette itself Liquids can actually damage (very severely) the internal parts

To pick up a tip, push the pipette into the tip holder ALWAYS keep the tip box COVERED This keeps out contaminants

After using ANY liquid, we will switch tips This will also help minimize the risk of contamination through

mixing of samplesTo eject a tip, push down on the SIDE button

This is attached to the metal rod that will push down on the tip Always eject tips into a WASTE BIN

Techniques for using a Micropipette

Push the PLUNGER to the FIRST Stop DO NOT GO FURTHER THAN THE FIRST STOP We must create a vacuum in order to pick up liquid

While holding it down, insert the tip into your liquid DO NOT LET GO UNTIL YOU ARE IN LIQUID This will pick up air, not the liquid

Release the plunger to pick up the liquidTo eject, move the tip into the desired container

Hold the tip against the inside surface of the container you wish to eject into

Push the PLUNGER to the SECOND Stop to eject ALL liquidLet’s practice!

Get a pipette each and practice picking up and ejecting a tip, and pushing the plunger to the FIRST and SECOND stop

Using the microcentrifuge

NEVER LOAD IT SIDEWAYS Like a washing/drying machine, it will spin out of

control and potentially breakALWAYS balance the load

In a 6-holder, this means you can load… NOT One Two Three Four NOT Five Six

Balance the epitubes in the rotor

Let’s practice!!!

Do activity One and Two on the second instructional handout Answer the first two questions by converting Answer questions 3 and 4: the “Lab Observations”

We will discuss and answer remaining questions after returning from break