Bacterial transformation is a technique used in modern molecular biology where a foreign plasmid is introduced into bacteria causing an increased production of the protein for which the plasmid is coded. The Beta Galactosidase protein in E. coli is one encoded by the lacZ gene and is an enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of lactose into glucose and galactase – the glucose being used as an energy source. The pGAL plasmid to be introduced contains the active lacZ gene to be coded by the E. coli. A blue color change in the E. coli colonies indicates the success of the transformation process and thus the production of Beta Galactosidase. Ultraviolet radiation therapy is used in the treatment of certain cancers and tumors. Bacterial transformation is used to produce either treatments for disease, such as insulin, or vaccines against disease. If these two processes were to be used in combination it is significant to know the effects UV radiation has on the transformation of E. coli by plasmid DNA. Furthermore, E. coli transformation may be used in the near future in treatment of cancers, and other diseases, and potentially in combination with UV radiation and other ionizing radiation therapies. Therefore this experiment, in combining the two, holds extreme medical significance to be applied in the near future.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Significance
Bacterial transformation is a technique used in modern molecular biology where a foreign plasmid is introduced into bacteria causing an increased production of the protein for which the plasmid is coded. The Beta Galactosidase protein in E. coli is one encoded by the lacZ gene and is an enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of lactose into glucose and galactase – the glucose being used as an energy source. The pGAL plasmid to be introduced contains the active lacZ gene to be coded by the E. coli. A blue color change in the E. coli colonies indicates the success of the transformation process and thus the production of Beta Galactosidase. Ultraviolet radiation therapy is used in the treatment of certain cancers and tumors. Bacterial transformation is used to produce either treatments for disease, such as insulin, or vaccines against disease. If these two processes were to be used in combination it is significant to know the effects UV radiation has on the transformation of E. coli by plasmid DNA. Furthermore, E. coli transformation may be used in the near future in treatment of cancers, and other diseases, and potentially in combination with UV radiation and other ionizing radiation therapies. Therefore this experiment, in combining the two, holds extreme medical significance to be applied in the near future.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment