Construct a Bug
Follow the DNA clues to discover what genes an unknown bacterial sample contains!
Every living organism has a genome – a set of genetic information that makes it the way it is. Genetic differences are what makes all life unique. Looking at the DNA in even the smallest of organisms you can uncover how they live and survive in their microbial world.
This activity shows you how DNA code can offer hints to what genes an organism has. From this information you can start to put together a profile of how that species lives. This new method of identifying microorganisms is still relatively new but is becoming ever more widely used with the continued advancement of DNA sequencing technology!