Could Other Bacteria Glow in the Dark Like E.Coli?

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The discussion centers on the feasibility of using high school lab methods, specifically freezing and heat shocking, to create glow-in-the-dark E. coli in other bacterial species. Participants reference various procedures and resources, including links to articles and lab guides that detail the transformation process involving Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) from jellyfish. It is noted that GFP has been successfully expressed in multiple bacterial species and even in fish and mammals. However, when discussing the potential to create glowing varieties of pond scum, participants clarify that most organisms referred to as pond scum are actually algae, not bacteria, and that different methods may be required for modifying algae. The conversation also touches on the availability of GFP kits, with a focus on whether they can be purchased by the public. Overall, the consensus is that while the methods for E. coli can be adapted, the procedures for algae may differ significantly.
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Would the methods used to create glow in the dark e.coli readily work on other bacteria?
 
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Ok I guess I'll be more specific.What I mean is will the high school lab experiment method of freezing them and then heat shocking them readily work on other bacteria. Sorry for the unspecific first question I was tired and worded it vaguely.
 
I've done it myself in high school.
 
Yep same procedure will it readily transfer to other bacteria?
 
GFP (and its derivatives of different colours) has been successfully expressed by multiple species of bacteria. It's even been used in fish and mammals.
 
Do you know where the derivative Dolores can be purchased? I want to take pond scum from a local lake and make a glowing variety for a freshwater biome
 
  • #10
In a fish tank
 
  • #11
Please provide a link to "Dolores" so we can know exactly what it is you are asking. Note that GFP shines in UV light so you'll have to have a UV lamp to see anything.
 
  • #12
Uggg stupid autocorrect. Sorry for the hassle I meant colors.
 
  • #14
Warpspeed13 said:
Do you know where the derivative Dolores can be purchased? I want to take pond scum from a local lake and make a glowing variety for a freshwater biome

Note that most of the organisms commonly referred to as pond scum are not bacteria, but algae, a diverse group of unicellular eukaryotic organisms. While it is certainly possible to introduce fluorescent transgenes into these organisms, the procedures may be different from those used to modify bacteria. However, because there has been considerable research into modifying algae for biofuel applications, there may be some published, standard procedures for introducing transgenes into algae.
 
  • #15
Ygggdrasil said:
Note that most of the organisms commonly referred to as pond scum are not bacteria, but algae, a diverse group of unicellular eukaryotic organisms. While it is certainly possible to introduce fluorescent transgenes into these organisms, the procedures may be different from those used to modify bacteria. However, because there has been considerable research into modifying algae for biofuel applications, there may be some published, standard procedures for introducing transgenes into algae.
Cool thanks, are you by any chance on the bungie forums?
 
  • #16
Here's the procedure http://www.apsnet.org/edcenter/K-12/...iBacterium.pdf
From your reference:
In this lab, Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) from the bioluminescent jellyfish Aequorea victoria has been incorporated into a plasmid along with a gene for resistance to the antibiotic ampicillin...​
... which is the procedure referred to in the New Scientist article in post #2 isn't it?

Short answer "yes".
 
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  • #17
Warpspeed13 said:
Cool thanks, are you by any chance on the bungie forums?

Nope, sorry.
 
  • #18
Kk,.
 
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