The aim of the project is the enhancement of the recombinant DNA lab experience for undergraduate women in the biology department. Funds are requested for the purchase of four instrumentation units to meet the needs of the development plan: (1) A DNA thermal cycler will be used to select and amplify a specific eukaryotic gene from a eukaryotic cDNA library by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). (2) A minifluorimeter will be utilized for accurate DNA concentration determinations. (3) An electroporation system will allow efficient transformation of bacteria with cloned DNA in an expression vector. (4) A mini electrophoresis system will be used to perform electrophoresis of proteins and subsequent Western blotting to detect specific proteins immunologically.
