From 2007.igem.org

Hcole 13:32, 21 June 2007 (EDT) Since my wiki is the only one currently working out of the high schoolers I have volunteered to write up summary of our first week of training so here it goes: On our first day (6/11/07) we went over the basic oligo tutorial and the overview of cloning the Chris made ( to view these follow this link http://www.openwetware.org/wiki/Arking:JCAOligoTutorialHome ) The overview discusses cloning both verbally and pictorially, I found it very helpful in gaining a basic visual understanding of what we will be doing this summer. We worked as a group to complete the tutorial quiz on construction files and designing oligos. We also discussed how PCR works, restriction enzymes inserts etc. and how to use ApE. Next we watched some videos filmed at the undergrad training. They essentially outlined the project that our iGEM team will be working on and the different divisions of work that people would be doing. On 6/12/07 we got into the actual experimental process of cloning. As part of our training we were going to complete as a group a cloning from start to finish. Amin led us through the first process PCR. First we discussed what exactly PCR does then Amin outlined the key components of PCR template, primers, nucleotides, and enzymes. Next we went over the "recipe" of the PCR so how much of each component we needed the concentration of buffers etc. Amin also told us about the proper handling of the materials by showing us where they needed to be stored and the temperatures needed to maintain our components. We also went over the order in which the components need to be added usually from largest volume to smallest but always put buffer in last. Our plasmid, template, and primers were given to us by Lane and they are part of his research. So once we put all the components in the tubes we put them in the PCR machine for 2 hours. We went to lunch and then came back to clean our PCR product. We used a DNA recovery kit. The entire process involves