Antibody Capture Simulation

"Frankenfoods"

Background
The "Frankenfoods" problem was created for a high school biology, honors biology or AP biology class, and many concepts and diagnostic techniques used in the UCLA lab were incorporated. Before attempting "Frankenfoods", students should have some pre-requisite knowledge about molecular biology and immunology. The concepts covered in "Frankenfoods" include:

Biotechnology
Gene manipulation
Genetic engineering
Genetics
Gene expression
Transcription
Translation
Phenotypes
Genotypes
Genes
Vaccination
Edible vaccines
Communicable diseases (Hepatitis, Cholera, Rabies, Norwalk virus)
PCR
Northern blot analysis
ELISA tests
Gel electrophoresis
Enzymes
Antibodies
Antigens

Prolog
The basic "Frankenfoods" problem asks the student to look at PCR data, northern blot analysis, ELISA tests and physical tests to determine which plants in the garden have been genetically engineered with which gene. Some genes will not be expressed correctly, so the student needs to then find out at what point of gene expression (transcription or translation) has an error occurred.

For a complete copy of the curriculum, please go to www.immex.ucla.edu.