8.2 Bacterial transformation: The Pglo System

Question 1

In the pGLO system, what is the purpose of the ampicillin resistance gene in the plasmid?

Answer 1

-To allow transformed bacteria to survive in the presence of ampicillin antibiotic, which is included in growth media

Question 2

For the pGlo bacterial transformation experiment, what did we use to transform the cells?

Answer 2

-plasmid

Question 3

For the pGlo bacterial transformation experiment, what will happen to the cell if it acquires the GFP gene?

Answer 3

-Glows green under fluorescent light

Question 4

For the pGlo bacterial transformation experiment, why was it important to plate the transformed cells on the medium that contained arabinose?

Answer 4

-Arabinose is necessary to turn on the promoter that allows for GPF expression.

Question 5

In the pGLO system, which gene is used to introduce a new trait, such as fluorescence, into bacterial cells?

Answer 5

-Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) gene

Question 6

Which of the following statements is true regarding the role of the heat shock step in bacterial transformation?

Answer 6

-It helps the plasmid DNA enter the bacterial cells.

Question 7

What is a plasmid in the context of bacterial transformation?

Answer 7

-A small, circular piece of DNA that can replicate independently in bacteria and is often used as a vector for gene insertion

Question 8

For the pGlo bacterial transformation experiment, what will happen to the cell if it acquires the bla gene?

Answer 8

-Provide antibiotic resistance to the cell.

Question 9

When bacterial cells have been transformed, they have…

Answer 9

-acquired new DNA

Question 10

For the pGlo bacterial transformation experiment, what would happen to the cell if it didn’t acquire the plasmid?

Answer 10

-The cell will not grow in the plate containing ampicillin.