BioBridge Fluorescent Proteins Lab
The Tsien Lab at UCSD has developed numerous different colors of fluorescent protein genes which are being used by scientists to follow cell reactions and observe cell parts. These genes have been cloned into plasmids which transform bacteria into all the colors of the rainbow. BioBridge has optimized the transformation protocol for use in high school biology classes to achieve excellent results. Students will transform bacteria with one of the "fruit-colored" fluorescent proteins (mGrape, mCherry, mTangerine), extract the protein and purify it using a nickel column. To view and download the curriculum materials, visit the EBBEP website.