Alu Formal Lab

Alu Formal Lab

Introduction:
Using the DNA found in hair sheaths, it is possible to find whether a individual has
small or long (homozygous) Alu or both (heterozygous). Studying differences in alu types can differentiate and separate people into different types and it is a way to study human population. It is possible with the information collected that we can analyze human evolution and descent from a common ancestor.

Hypothesis:
If the DNA from the hair sheath is properly extracted and the alu is properly analyzed, then it will be possible to separate the class into different groups from the different alus and determine who has a common ancestor. If different races have different types of alus, then they should vary respectively.

Materials and Methods:
.5 ml microcentrifuge tube
100-1000ul micropipettor and a 2-20ul micropipettor
300ul of 10% Chelex
300ul Proteinase K solution
3-5 eyebrow hairs
Thermocycler, vortex, microcentrifuge, FlashGels
.2ml tube containing Ready-To-Go PCR ® bead
20ul of TPA-25 primer/loading dye/buffer solution
microcentrifuge rack

Remove 3-5 eyebrow hairs and add them into the .5 ml microcentrifuge tube. Make sure the hairs have apparent sheaths. Shake the Chelex until the beads are suspended through the solution. Quickly use the 100-1000u micropipettor set at 300ul and add the Chelex solution into the .5 ml microcentrifuge containing the eyebrow hairs. Do the same with the Proteinase K solution. Label the tube, make sure the hairs are fully submerged in the solution, and place it into the Thermocycler that will be set at 37º C. After 10 minutes, remove the tube and use the vortex mixer for 15 seconds to dislodge cells from hair shafts. Place the tube back into the Thermocycler and set to, “boil,” for 8 minutes. After the allotted 8 minutes, allow the Thermocycler cool the tube for 2 minutes. Remove the tube and vortex it for 15 seconds. Afterwards, place the tube into the microcentrifuge for 15 seconds. Make sure the...