Unit 3 and 4 Biology: Transformation and Genetic Engineering in Action!

On Friday 7 March our resourceful Units 3 and 4 Biology students put two investigations together to test their laboratory skills as part of their studies.

In the first experiment, the biologists conducted a gel electrophoresis to solve a mystery forensic occurrence: a fictional scenario where one of the biology teachers, Mrs Karinda Hogan, was “murdered” by a teacher from the science team of Catherine McAuley College Bendigo. The suspects in this forensic case included Mrs Sharna Frawley and Ms Claire Molony. The DNA of both of these suspects and the DNA found at the crime scene was taken and used in the process of gel electrophoresis. Through the use of science and relevant technologies, justice was finally served, resulting in the finding that Ms Molony killed Mrs Hogan through the use of her psychological techniques. As Mrs Hogan said, “it’s always the quiet ones”.

In the second experiment students successfully made bacteria glow by introducing a special glowing gene into the bacteria through a technique called the heat shock method. After allowing the bacteria to glow on special plates, the transformation was revealed under ultraviolet light which gave fantastic results. The students said this was one of the best experiments they have done and will be one of their highlights in Units 3 and 4 Biology.

Jay Thakar, Year 12