Kent Fukuzura, Making Science Simple
We’re all heard that the human genome has been mapped, but don’t expect to find the code in your local library, or even freely accessible on the Internet with a suitable gene map. However don’t despair, there’s nothing preventing you from mapping your own genome, or that of your sister’s, and creating your own library of human DNA. Can a cure for dorkiness be far behind?
What you’ll need:
You’ll be cutting up DNA, and lots of it, so a pair of rubber gloves is a good idea. Try to borrow mother’s blender and the use of the kitchen sink for the afternoon.
The DNA sequence is pretty long, about 6.9 gigabits, so have lots of notepaper handy.
Let’s get started!
The first thing is to get a sample. You won’t have to cut yourself or anything gross, just scrape a little spit off the back of your tongue, as if you were going to examine it under a microscope.
Every cell in your body has all the DNA needed to make you, even your spit. If you want you could get some sort of tissue sample from someone else, but who cares about them? Let them map their own genome!
Sequencing DNA first means cloning DNA fragments from a cosmid or bacteriophage library into sequencing vectors that carry shorter pieces of the original fragments.
Combine your tissue sample with some kind of bacteria or simple organism, like bread yeast–bread machine yeast is perfect–to create a huge clone army of your spit. Ask mom if you can borrow a Tupperware container to breed your sample in. After being introduced into the host cells, the DNA fragments can then be reproduced along with the host cell DNA. This is why you want to use the kitchen sink and rubber gloves. Now aren’t you glad you’re doing your genome and not someone else’s?
The next step is to make the cloned fragments into sets of fragments differing in length by only one nucleotide, so that the base at the end of each successive fragment is detectable after the fragments have been separated by gel electrophoresis. You better use some paper towels to absorb any extra materials. Once completed you’ll have a genomic library–a set of overlapping DNA fragments encompassing an entire genome, your genome!
What’s next?
What can you do with your genome once you have it mapped out? After discovering where the genes for your myopia or asthma are, why not take the next step–gene therapy–and start altering your body? Repairing the obvious faults, like myopia or asthma, is only the beginning. Why not make your voice deeper or your nose more virile? But don’t forget to clean up the mess in the kitchen first!
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