Ohio State Trip

Kim Mirasola and I are embarking on a 9-day trip to Ohio State University to work with Dr. Andrea Wolfe.  Dr. Wolfe will help us perfect the DNA extraction techniques being used with Magnolia virginiana and the PCR protocols using ISSR primers.  Once we have successfully amplified the DNA, we hope to generate a baseline DNA fingerprint for the Polk County stand of Magnolia virginiana.  I will update the blog with some results over the next few days including some pictures of our work in the lab.

Evan's Reflections

I really enjoyed this biotech class. The material covered in the class and the labs we performed gave me excellent preparation for the classes I plan to take in college. I hope to pursue a medical career, and having a class of this caliber and subject matter has given me an introduction in the field. During pre-med track in college and medical school I will carrying out similar experiments and covering similar information. However, the academic preparation that this class has given me for college is not the only reason that I valued my experience and time in the class. I enjoyed the atmosphere and the people involved. The class was composed of like minded individuals and other students who value learning and actually contribute and put effort into the class. As always I appreciated Ms. Allsbrook's teaching and the time and effort she puts into her classes. Overall, it was a great class and good way to end the day and year.

P.S.- I heard somewhere that a girl named Dallas is awesome...

Michele's Last Thoughts

I can't explain in any amount of words how much this class has taught me. For a school our size to be able to do PCR and protein purification is amazing. Although the class included some intense labs, we accomplished many things that I never thought we would be able to do. We also had a lot of fun on the way, from sandwich boxes to visualizable. It seems like just a few weeks ago that we walked in the classroom to face a packet of 200 biotech words that we only knew around 50 of. Although it seemed incredibly intimidating, Mrs. Allsbrook did an amazing job at teaching us everything we would need to know throughout the semester. The lab experiences were incredibly valuable. I'm sure that when I get to labs in college, I will be ahead of the others because of this class. Thank you for everything you have done for us Mrs. Allsbrook, and remember, Don't stop believing!

Sasha

Hello current and awesome magnolia detectives and a warm welcome to future detectives. This is a lab based class which means that you will actually have fun learning the material through hands on experience. Genetic engineering and biotechnology are a lot more exciting than you might think it is. Plus it is a great environment to get nerdy and learn awesome words like visualizable!!! The labs you complete throughout the year are preparation for the work with Magnolia virginiana. Being the first of the Magnolia Detectives my class has left behind a strong foundation for future work. The labs were a blast and the teacher is amazing. Love you Mrs. Allsbrook.

Maggie!!!

This class really educated me about the biotechnology world. I learned about the ethical issues of genetic engineering, as well as the benefits of it. I enjoyed all the labs that we did because they challenged me and prepared me for college classes. We learned how to perform Polymerase chain reaction to make multiple copies of a sample of DNA, how to load and run a gel electrophoresis, how to extract DNA, DNA fingerprinting, separate proteins, and bacterial transformations. We collected samples of magnolia leaves and began the DNA extraction process, and started the project for other students to finish in the future.

PCHS Biotech Pioneers

This semester went by too fast! I wasn't aware going into the class that it would be so lab-intense. Good thing they were my favorite part. We had our root beer fermentation, DNA extraction necklaces, restriction enzymes, southern blot, PCR, Human fingerprinting toolbox, Transformation with green and blue fluorescent protein plasmids, Purification of green and blue fluorescent protein, and final magnolia extraction lab. I cannot begin to explain how more in depth this class has gone into the world of biotechnology that I have previously understood. I now can sequence DNA using the Sanger method, do a southern blot, the differences between STR/VNTR/ISSR, and understand the procedures of DNA micro arrays. Funny thing, because there was a micro array question on a sample GRE test. That being said, this was one of the best classes I've taken. I believe that I'm even more ready for college now. Thanks to everyone that is in support of this project, and thanks to Mrs. Allsbrook for being a "goddess". :)

Tyler Toomey

The wonderous thoughts of Dallas

This class was definitely a success. We started the year by refreshing our memory on basic biological concepts and did many labs that helped us gain the knowledge necessary to work with Magnolia virginiana. We started with simple DNA extraction then we worked with restriction enzymes, PCR, southern blotting, VNTRs, Alus, mDNA markers. protein purification and other such epicness (I'm aware epicness is not technically a word, but in this case I think it appropriately describes the pure awesome that occurred during Biotechnology.). By the time we started working with the Magnolia we were more than prepared and understood everything in the lab protocol. Through this class we were able to be a part of a research project that will continue for years to come; our data will aide future classes with their research on Magnolia virginiana. PLUS because of this class i have a test tube of my own DNA hanging from my rear view mirror of my car, which is awesome.

Biotech- Jeremiah Sta.maria

The execution of this class was effective. Doing labs connected to the Magnolia virginiana before doing its labs made sure we knew what we were doing. The classwork itself refreshed and added to our biological knowledge, to let us understand what was happening in our labs. No doubt this class was the coolest; where else could you get a copy of your own DNA?

Biotech 2010- Ericka's Reflections

Biotechnology as a course has opened up a plethora of doors for students at Polk County High. As well as our normal core science classes, we get the chance to experience a course based in hands-on lab work and valuable applications of biotechnology in science within the real world. Biotechnology has prepared me, as well as every student in the class, for the atmosphere associated with college labs. We have learned how to use micropipets and how to perform a gel electrophoresis, PCR, DNA extraction, Southern Blot, and bacterial transformation. The Magnolia project also gives us a relevant way of applying the knowledge we have learned to benefit our community. After gathering leaves from the Polk County stand of Magnolia virginiana, we extracted the DNA from them and performed a PCR using ISSR primers ordered from a company named Operon. After the DNA has been amplified, we will perform a gel electrophoresis that will create a baseline banding pattern for the ISSR primers of Magnolia virginiana. Those banding patterns will be used to trace the closest relative to our stand of Magnolia virginiana in future years. Even though I am not going to be directly involved with the end product of this experiment, I am honored and excited about being part of the beginning. --Ericka

Michael

This past semester has been very fun with my fellow classmates. The class has been very hands on because it was lab based. We have all learned tons of new information whether it was about ALU's, mDNA, or ISSR's. Being the first class we all had learning experiences together, even the teacher, as we had never performed some of these lab procedures. There were many indepth discussions on all topics and before each lab. I had tons of fun and it was a great class to take after AP Biology to build on the knowledge previously learned.

Lauren's thoughts on the matter

Biotech has been a long and interesting journey. Every lab we did built on the next lab. We gained so much knowledge on the different technologies and the concepts of the studies done in the field. I loved learn about exons and introns. If you know what that is your awesome. I also loved to do the pedigrees. All in all it was a good experience.

Magnolia Research- Tiffany

Over the course of our biotechnology class, we have learned basic biotech concepts and have conducted various labs such as PCR, gel electrophesis, DNA extraction, Southern Blotting, and E.Coli transformations. These have grown our understanding of biotechnology and have prepared us for magnolia research. Currently, we have extracted DNA from Magnolia virginiana leaf samples we collected from our population. Tomorrow we will take this DNA and conduct a PCR amplification with four ISSR primers. Our goal is to then take the samples and create a gel electrophesis ISSR baseline banding pattern. Hopefully all of our leaves within our population will have the same banding pattern, if not, the project's next goal will be to create an intrapopulation study to determine the variation within the population. After this is finished, our samples will then be compared to coastal Magnolia virginiana banding patterns which will be determined with further research. This lab is incredibly interesting and it has helped me prepare for college research.

Jacob

During this semester in Biotechnology we learned many new lab techniques in order to perform our research on the Magnolia virgianiana species, located in Columbus, NC. Through numerous labs we learned to extract and compare DNA from Magnolia species. This class is very lab oriented and is an excellent way to learn about STR,VNTR,ISSR, and other methods of DNA comparisons. I can now use the techniques I learned in this class to succed in other microbiology based classes that I may take in the future.

Matthew's ponderings about the past semester in Intro to Biotech

Over the past semester we have learned everything from bacterial transformations to PCR projects. Everything we have done in this class has lead up to the Magnolia Detectives main cause of experimenting with Magnolia virginiana. The labs that we have done will be valuable experience for the future when I go into the science field. These have taught me how to conduct labs in an actual lab environment with actual equipment. All this experience is allowing us to extract magnolia DNA use PCR to obtain more, and use gel electrophoresis to examine our results. This would not have been possible without the amount of time we have put into this class. I can't wait to continue using my knowledge gained in this class later on in college.

--Matthew

Calvin's Reflections

The class has been quite a journey. From starting in the begining with quite a disadvantage, having not taken AP Biology, to being confident in my ability to use restriction enzymes, perform gel electrophoresis, PCR and many other vauluable skills used in the biotechnology field. I'm sad to say that our class can't see the project through to the end but I will be sure to keep up with it on our website!

-Calvin

My experiences in biotech-Flynn

Mrs. Allsbrook's Intro to Biotechnology class has helped me understand the concepts of many DNA related experiments such as DNA fingerprinting and bacterial transformtion. With this knowledge I am now able to understand many things I see in everyday life throughout the media and conversing with people in college and in the work force about modern application of biotechnology. The Magnolia Project is a culmination of all the labs and experiments we performed during the class. We needed to know all the things we do now to perform adequate research for the Magnolia Project. Overall the Intro to Biotechnology class has given me a foundation in biotechnology that will greatly help me if I pursue a field in biotechnology in college. Even if I do not further pursue biotechnology, this class has given me valuable insights into many modern, controversial issues of our day revolving around organisms and their manipulation.

My Experiences in Biotechnology- Jessica

The main benefit that I gained from this class was the hands on experience in conducting experiments including DNA fingerprinting, gel electrophoresis, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Being able to use micropipets, a thermocycler, a vertical gel electrophoresis chamber, etc. was an opportunity that I had not been given in any other class during my time in high school. This prepared me for the type of hands on atmosphere of science courses in college, and further helped me to learn procedures and ways of thinking that will ultimately benefit me in my career. I intend to major in biochemistry while at college, and this class not only provided me with the level of information I will be expected to know, it provided me with a knowledge of current events that are now happening in the field. This course, unlike many of my other classes, held a real world connection. Everything I learned I will be applying in the future. I also gained experience in the application of knowledge, with the Magnolia virginiana project. As a class, we traveled to collect leaves from a sight in our county, and then back in the classroom we used the leaves to isolate DNA. We will soon be taking this DNA and running PCR to make a DNA fingerprint specific to the Magnolia trees in our county.

Overview of the Magnolia Detectives Project

     Polk County High School has embarked on a real-world research project wherein students in the Introduction to Biotechnology class are learning DNA manipulation techniques in order to solve a Polk County mystery.  Mr. John Vining, pictured, of the Polk County Cooperative Extension Center asked PCHS to help determine the closest genetics relatives to a local stand of Sweetbay Magnolia, also known as Magnolia virginiana.  This species is usually found in coastal regions.  Polk County is located in Western North Carolina and the local population of Sweetbay Magnolia represents the western-most out-population for the range of this species.
     PCHS students directed by Jennifer Allsbrook will attempt over the next several semesters to address the Magnolia mystery.  Adding to this blog, my students will explain some of the laboratory techniques and protocols that they have learned while working as Magnolia Detectives!

Follow the Magnolia Detectives as we strive to solve this mystery and visit our home page at http://www.pchsmagnoliadetectives.org