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Science
Do you like Brussel sprouts? Then it's in your DNA!
As part of the A level Biology course, students visit the laboratories
of the @-Bristol centre and explore the evolution of an unusual trait
where a certain amount of people taste a particular chemical as being
nasty and bitter, while others cannot taste it at all, by using the PCR
technique.
The human genome is an immensely long code. In fact it is as long as
800 bibles. And we used the amazing sensitivity of the PCR technique to detect a single letter change in a particular
word within those 800 bibles! Using this advanced technique students would classify themselves into one of three
common genetic groups (super tasters, tasters and non-tasters) using our own DNA!
We began by tasting tabs on which had the nasty tasting (bit like sprouts) chemical added to it, which tasted bitter
to most and had no effect on some (who were lucky as they didn't suffer the taste in their mouths the whole morning
before we were excused for lunch like the rest of us!). After the DNA extraction, i.e. the swab inside of our cheeks,
we went through the complex lab techniques of micro-pipetting, vortex block, PCR- cycler, restriction endonuclease
enzymes and Gel Electrophoresis.
The end result is a DNA profile where we can visualise if each us were tasters or non-tasters.
After setting up the gel, we broke for lunch and explored the wonders
of the @-Bristol centre at the same time. We came back and, with
the lights out, we got to view and discuss our results with each other.
Although we were only seeing if we possessed the DNA to taste sprouts,
it was still pretty amazing to be looking at our own genetic code, which
effectively controls one small part of our behaviour. At least now some
of us have an excuse at Christmas!!
Alan Hartigan
