CCVI biotechnology class creates innovative Christmas tree ornaments

December 18, 2015

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A class at Guelph’s Centennial Collegiate Vocational Institute has used genetic engineering to create innovative decorations for the holidays.

According to CCVI teacher Doug Gajic, the grade 12 biotechnology class genetically transformed harmless bacteria with DNA derived from bright corals and jellyfish.

The coral and jelly fish genes were expressed by the bacteria to produce proteins (you can see them in the plates pictured below).

 

From there, the class harvested the fluorescent proteins and added them to a sodium aglinate liquid. The mixture was then dropped into a salt solution, which caused polymerization into solid tiny coloured spheres.

Students packed the tiny blue, red, purple and green little spheres into clear tubes to hang onto the class’s little Christmas tree. 

 

Shining a black light then caused the protein spheres to fluoresce as they do naturally in the corals and jellyfish.

 

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