Buprenorphine as an alternative treatment for drug addicts
1. cristina dna revised
1. Cristina<br />From Gene to Protein Workshop<br />This workshop consisted of three days of work; it started with the understanding of DNA, then we continued with the close relationship between genes and proteins, and finished with an understanding of the function of DNA in the body. The first day we focused on the function and importance of DNA. By taking a closer look we saw that DNA is made up of nucleotides. These nucleotides exist in four basic forms, which are present in every organism. All the genes in the DNA are what contain the necessary information to create a complete organism. The experiment that was develop for the comprehension of these ideas was DNA extraction- Extract your own DNA. In this experiment we started with DNA source, in this case we used our saliva. Then detergent is added for the lysis of the DNA; lysis is the destruction of the cell membrane. Contact lens solution is added afterwards for the denaturing of the proteins, and finally alcohol is added for the precipitation of the DNA. <br />After we got a clear idea of what DNA was, then we learned how to detect certain sections of the DNA. <br />Finally, we separated it from the rest of the genome. This technique is called PCR; this method has many applications like paternity test, forensics, study of fossils and genetic engineering. Through changes in temperature, PCR completes different cycles that duplicate the section of DNA desired. After this, the next step is the use of electrophoresis to separate the DNA fragments by size, and to detect the fragment that you want according the number of bases that it has. This same process can be done with proteins except proteins that have different charges through their structure. SDS is added to make the sample all negatively charged. Then everything is the same as with PCR. You separate the proteins by size. The study of proteins is as important as the study of DNA, because proteins carry out the instructions that are encoded in the DNA. <br />Cristina M. Cruz Irizarry<br />RISE Program<br />