Week 2 HW: DNA Read Write and Edit

Table of Contents

Part 0: Basics of Gel Electrophoresis

Watched lecture, recitation AND the bootcamp 🫡

Part 1: Benchling and In-silico Gel Art

In Benchling, follow the instructions as outlined in the guide video:

  • Click “+” (create)
  • DNA/RNA Sequence $\rightarrow$ New DNA/RNA sequence
  • Name: “Lambda Sequence”
  • Nucleotide type: DNA, Topology: Linear
  • Bases: copy and paste the sequence of bases in
  • Click the scissors tool to digest, and search for each of the seven enzymes. After each individual enzyme is selected click “Run digest” to add a new lane to your virtual digest
Lambda Sequence Virtual Digest Lambda Sequence Virtual Digest

Part 2: Gel Art - Restriction Digests and Gel Electrophoresis

Can’t perform - no wet lab access.

Part 3: DNA Design Challenge

3.1. Choose your protein

I’ve chosen mECFP, it’s a fluorescent protein that produces a lovely cyan/blue colour. It was my favourite fluorescent protein I saw in my quantitative optical imaging/microscopy class.

3.2. Reverse Translate: Protein (amino acid) sequence to DNA (nucleotide) sequence.

3.3. Codon optimization

3.4. You have a sequence! Now what?

3.5. [Optional] How does it work in nature/biological systems?

Part 4: Prepare a Twist DNA Synthesis Order

Part 5: DNA Read/Write/Edit

5.1. DNA Read

5.2. DNA Write

5.3. DNA Edit