Transcript ppt - FOG

Micropipettes and Centrifuges
Bio 101A
Centrifugation
• A means of purification
of solids and liquids
mixed in a suspension
• Done by varying applied
force (gravity)
• A variety of uses in
Biology
Centrifugation theory
*
Vs = settling velocity (m/s)
r = radius of the particle (m),
g = gravitational force (m/s2)
ρp = particle density (g/mL)
ρf = fluid density (g/mL)
μ = fluid viscosity (Pa s).
*
( equation not on quiz…)
Uses of centrifugation
•
•
•
•
Purifying cells
Purifying organelles
Purifying molecules
After centrifugation, solid
particles form a pellet
• Liquid is called the
supernatant
• Supernatant and pellet are
then easily separated
Isolating Organelles by Cell
Fractionation
• Cell fractionation takes cells apart and separates the
major organelles from one another
• Ultracentrifuges fractionate cells into their component
parts
• Cell fractionation enables scientists to determine the
functions of organelles
LE 6-5a
Homogenization
Tissue
cells
Differential centrifugation
Homogenate
1000 g
(1000 times the
force of gravity)
10 min
Supernatant poured
into next tube
20,000 g
20 min
80,000 g
60 min
Pellet rich in
nuclei and
cellular debris
150,000 g
3 hr
Pellet rich in
mitochondria
(and chloroplasts if cells
are from a plant)
Pellet rich in
“microsomes”
(pieces of plasma
membranes and
cells’ internal
membranes)
Pellet rich in
ribosomes
How is DNA replicated?
• It was expected, but not proven, that DNA was
replicated semiconservatively
• Competing models were the conservative
model and the dispersive model
LE 16-10
Parent cell
Conservative
model. The two
parental strands
reassociate after
acting as templates
for new strands,
thus restoring the
parental double
helix.
Semiconservative
model. The two
strands of the
parental
molecule
separate, and each
functions as a
template for
synthesis of a new,
comple-mentary
strand.
Dispersive model.
Each strand of both
daughter molecules
contains
a mixture of
old and newly
synthesized
DNA.
First
replication
Second
replication
Meselson-Stahl experiment
• They labeled the
nucleotides of the old
strands with a heavy
isotope of nitrogen
• The first replication
produced a band of hybrid
DNA, eliminating the
conservative model
• A second replication
produced both light and
hybrid DNA, eliminating the
dispersive model and
supporting the
semiconservative model
LE 16-11
Gradient
Centrifugation
Bacteria
cultured in
medium
containing
15N
DNA sample
centrifuged
after 20 min
(after first
replication)
Bacteria
transferred to
medium
containing
14N
DNA sample
centrifuged
after 40 min
(after second
replication)
First replication
Conservative
model
Semiconservative
model
Dispersive
model
Less
dense
More
dense
Second replication
Micropipettors
• Essential for moving
liquids from container to
container
• Can pipette very small
volumes, very precisely
• Ubiquitous in Biology
laboratories
• Come in a variety of sizes
• All require special
disposable tips
• They are fragile and
expensive
Pipette tips
• Different tips for
different kinds of
pipettes
Pipettes have two springs
• First stopcalibrated
volume
• Second stopmaximum
volume of
pipette
Regular pipette and bulb
• For larger volumes
Micropipettes have different volumes
Volumes
adjustable
with dial
What is the volume indicated?
What is the volume indicated?
6.84 uL
132.5 uL
264 uL
Never lay the micropipette on its side
when liquid is in the tip
(WHY NOT?)
Why is this bad?
Pressing the tip ejector button
• Note: tip ejector
doesn’t always
work with
certain tips