Arhodomonas: A Genomic Puzzle

Abstract

The purpose of our research project was to identify possible gaps in the Arhodomonas Sp. Seminole bacterium’s DNA. The Bacteria Arhodomonas sp. Seminole lives and thrives within oil rich soils in the southern United States. It is able to metabolize the harmful chemicals that are produced within the area. In this experiment, we examined the DNA string of the Bacteria Arhodomonas sp. Seminole, our groups were presented with the task of “rebuilding” the DNA string using some methods that we learned in lecture. We were given two contigs and used PCR primers to generate a draft of the gene gap. The DNA sequences we were given were placed into BLASTx and information was gained about the two (Head and Tail) determining whether these two sequences could possibly sit beside each other.  With our information, we were given a related protein sequence to determine whether these two contigs contain a protein thus proving that they connect while giving information to what is missing. After this, the groups were taught and helped through the process of PCR in order to create more copies of our contig, then used a technique called Electrophoresis in order to determine similarities/differences between our contigs and the control group.  Our groups went through the steps and use the methods presented to us and we were able to determine that our two contigs produce a protein within the Bacteria Arhodomonas sp. Seminole. We obtained results from the forward primer but results were inconclusive from the reverse primer. The results confirmed that the two contigs do line up but we were not able to identify the DNA segment due to limited information.