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SOME SCOPE FOR ADDITIONAL WORK

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Illuminating DNA is available as downloadable Adobe Acrobat (PDF) files.

Details of how to obtain a free copy of the Adobe Acrobat Reader software are given here.

In a school or college context, for reasons of both safety and expense, the scope for open-ended practical investigations with DNA is limited. Within these constraints, there are some ideas which can very easily form the basis of a worthwhile practical project. Some brief suggestions for such projects are given here.

The additional work suggested here includes:

• computer and physical modelling of DNA;
• extraction of plant DNA;
• quantification of DNA on agarose gels;
• investigations of the induction of beta-galactosidase;
• the effect of storage conditions on plasmid extraction;
• comparing the efficiency of various modifications to the bacterial transformation method.

Safety guidelines for practical work with DNA can be found here.

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