GENETIC TRANSFORMATION
Foreign genes can be inserted into E.coli to produce and harvest specific proteins. The biotechnology industry uses E.Coli extensively to generate potentially beneficial products such as insulin and Human Growth Hormone. The insertion of a foreign gene into an organism is called a genetic transformation.

MEDIA
To grow E.coli in a laboratory, nutrients they need must be supplied in a culture medium. The solid media used to grow E.coli, LB (Luria-Bertani) agar is made of yeast extract and an enzymatic digest of meat byproducts. The digest provides a mixture of carbohydrates, amino acids, nucleotides, salts and vitamins. Agar is derived from seaweed, melts when heated and forms a solid gel when cooled. It functions to provide a solid support on which to culture bacteria.

E.coli (Escherichia coli)
The bacterial culture plate model demonstrates how E.coli (Escherichia coli is grown in a laboratory. E. coli is the most thoroughly understood cellular organism because it is extremely convenient to study. It grows rapidly, doesn't require a lot of care, is easy to store, and what we learn can often be generalized to cell systems. Plants and animals (including humans.)

GFP and pBLUE
The jellyfish, Aequorea Victoria, glows in the dark because it has a gene that codes for GFP (Green Fluorescent Protein). E.coli that has been transformed with this gene will produce GFP and glow in the dark under ultraviolet light. When transformed with the gene pBLUE, E.coli will turn dark blue. These two genes are often used in research as visual aids. Transformed E.coli are much easier to identify when they glow or change color.

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