Pglo Transformation

Genetic transformation is a process by which competent bacteria intakes naked DNA from the surrounding environment and incorporates the foreign DNA into its own genetic code. Transformation only occurs in competent bacteria. A naturally competent bacterium is classified as a bacterium that can readily intake naked DNA. Fortunately, the bacteria that are not naturally competent can still undergo transformation by being treated with various agents to artificially induce competence. Also, another factor that plays a role in transformation is plasmids. Plasmids are small circular pieces of DNA that assist with gene transfer in artificially induced transformation. In this lab, a previously made plasmid called pGLO was used to conduct the transformation process into Escherichia coli (E. coli). pGLO carries several genes such as β-lactamase, green fluorescent protein, origin of replication, and transcriptional regulator gene that affects transformation. For instance, the β-lactamase gene (bla) gives the transformed bacteria resistance to ampicillin. The green fluorescent protein gene (gfp) will provide the transformed bacteria with a green glow. The origin of …show more content…
coli was able to take up DNA (pGLO plasmid) via transformation. It can also be concluded that the ampicillin resistance gene was transferred (form of growth) and the gfp gene was phenotypically expressed (fluorescence from UV light) in the LB/amp/ara medium containing the pGLO+ culture. Overall, the results from the pGLO- and pGLO+ transformations seem to be accurate. However, the results are subject to imperfections due to evenly spreading the transfer DNA to the Luria broth plates. In regards to theory, genetic transformation is an important process in biotechnology. The process of transformation has allowed for the production of modern medicines such as insulin, growth hormones, vaccines and other pharmaceutical