Maximizing the Production of GFP in Transformed E. coli

Bacterial transformation is a process in which bacteria uptake exogenous genetic material. Bacteria do this process naturally but researchers can facilitate the uptake of exogenous genetic material through a process called heat shock. In this experiment Escherichia coli was transformed using heat shock to accept the pGlo plasmid. The pGlo plasmid codes for the production of Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) when it is in the presence of arabinose, a sugar. The pGlo plasmid also codes for ampicillin resistance so only transformed E. coli survive when put on agar plates with ampicillin. This experiment looks at how unmodified E. coli interact with different levels of modified E. coli on agar plates with varying levels of ampicillin. This experiment aims to find the most efficient way to get unmodified E. coli obtain the pGlo plasmid from modified E. coli. The findings of this research are that the high concentrations of ampicillin and high levels of modified E. coli resulted in the most GFP production. These findings can help manufacturers maximize the production of medicines like insulin that can be produced with transformed bacteria.

Research Conducted By:

Daniel Hallam
Lakeview High School

Andrew Meesseman
Sterling Heights High School

 

 

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