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Biotechnology students used the skills learned during the microbiology
unit and applied them to a process called
bacterial transformation –
pictured left to right - Allen Christman (Ansonia) and Hunter Spieles
(Vandalia-Butler).
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Miami Valley Career Technology Center
MVCTC Biotechnology
Program is all Aglow
Englewood, Ohio – The Miami Valley Career Technology Center (MVCTC)
Biotechnology students used the skills learned during the microbiology
unit and applied them to a process called bacterial transformation.
Biotechnology instructor, Erin Molden explained, “This means that we
will be introducing a DNA from the Aequoriea Victoria jellyfish to
non-pathogenic bacteria. Most people are familiar with this DNA when
they see the Glofish® at the store which glow different colors under
blue LED lights.”
A successful experiment will result in bacteria that glows green under
UV light. For this experiment students used the pGLO Transformation Lab
from Bio-Rad. They will take what they learned in this lab and design
their own independent experiments testing the role of different
reagents needed for the lab.
Molden when on to say, “While it is fun to see the glowing bacteria,
this process also applies to everyday life. Most people know someone
who lives with Diabetes and need to take human insulin to regulate
their blood sugar. Recombinant human insulin was one of the first
biotechnology products approved for human medical use. This medicine is
made through the same process of bacterial transformation that we are
using to make our bacterial glow.”
Students in the MVCTC Biotechnology program build upon their knowledge
to explore uses for science by performing experiments in agriculture,
medicine, genetics, forensics, and many other areas. The primary
goal of the program is to introduce students to the research laboratory
environment. The Biotechnology Program at MVCTC prepares high school
juniors and seniors for science classes at the college level.
MVCTC students that successfully complete the Biotechnology Program
have the opportunity to ear a one-year certification from Sinclair as
well as the Miami Valley Tech Prep Consortium scholarship to Sinclair.
What started almost 50 years ago as the Montgomery County Joint
Vocational School (JVS) has transformed in the Miami Valley Career
Technology Center (MVCTC). While the name has changed, the mission
remains the same. MVCTC is dedicated to providing training for
in-demand jobs and college-readiness skills for high school and adult
students across Darke, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, and Warren Counties.
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