Students use specially developed pBLU® plasmid in a colony transformation procedure to observe the phenotypic effect of inserting new genes into living bacteria. An ampicillin-sensitive strain of
E. coli, incapable of producing ß-galactosidase for lactose breakdonw, is induced to take up pBLU® plasmid DNA. This plasmid contains genes for both ampicillin resistance and ß-galactosidase production.
The transformed cells are plated on media containing ampicillin and medium containng ampicillin and X-gal (a histochemical substrate that, when cleaved by ß-galactosidase, forms a blue-colored product). Transformants appear as white colonies on ampicillin medium and as blue colonies on ampicillin/X-gal medium. The tranformed colonies phenotype is Lac+ and ampicillin resistanct. Each kit contain a coupon for prepaid delivery of perishable materials.
