Transformation notes
Explain bacterial transformation and how antibiotic selection identifies successful clones.
Transformation notes with definitions, heat-shock temperature diagram, antibiotic selection explanation, and predicted colony results for each control and experimental plate with justifications.
- 1Do thisExplain bacterial transformation and how antibiotic selection identifies successful clones.
- 2Use this resource
- 3Submit thisPre-lab: Transformation notes with definitions, heat-shock temperature diagram, antibiotic selection explanation, and predicted colony results for each control and experimental plate with justifications.
- 4Submit it here
- 1CMSD website. Go to clevelandmetroschools.org and click the Clever button.
- 2Clever. Clever opens. Sign in if it asks.
- 3Microsoft (district) login. Use your district Microsoft account (the one for school).
- 4Schoology. Open Schoology, then your class, then Assignments, and find the file named below.
The file to submit is named: Biotechnology for Health (Biomedical Innovations) › Transformation, antibiotic selection, plasmid extraction, restriction digest, gel interpretation. › Pre-labOpen Schoology
- CER:
- Claim, Evidence, Reasoning — make a claim, back it with evidence, explain your reasoning.
- SOP:
- Standard Operating Procedure — the exact steps to follow (especially in a lab).
- Tracker:
- Your PLTW progress log where you record completed evidence.
- myPLTW:
- The PLTW course site where you do the online activities — you open it through Schoology.
Minute-by-minute · 80-minute block
💡 Big idea: Antibiotic selection makes transformation results visible by killing non-transformed cells.
- 0-5 minWarm-up: what does it mean for a bacterial cell to be competent?
- 5-20 minDefine transformation, competent cells, and heat shock in your notes
- 20-40 minDiagram the heat-shock temperature profile and explain each temperature step
- 40-55 minExplain antibiotic selection; predict colony growth for each plate condition
- 55-70 minWrite expected results for positive control, negative control, and experimental plates
- 70-80 minExit ticket: predict one specific plate result with a one-sentence justification
- • Tomorrow we do the transformation and gel wet lab, so today we lock in the conceptual foundation.
- • You need to be able to explain every step before you do it: that's the Lab SOP standard.
- • We'll predict what each plate should look like before any results come in.
- • A correct prediction before the lab is stronger evidence of understanding than just reading the results.
- 1Define transformation and competent cells.
- 2Describe the heat-shock steps that drive plasmid uptake.
- 3Explain how an antibiotic-resistance gene enables selection.
- 4Predict which plate condition yields colonies and which does not.
- 5Write the expected result for each control plate.
- • You explained transformation and antibiotic selection.
- • You predicted colony growth across control plates.
- • Competent cells have weakened membranes that allow plasmid DNA to enter during heat shock.
- • The heat-shock protocol raises temperature briefly (42 degrees C) to drive DNA uptake, then cools to prevent cell death.
- • Only cells that took up the resistance plasmid survive on antibiotic agar; non-transformed cells die.
Your PLTW work today
Transformation, antibiotic selection, plasmid extraction, restriction digest, gel interpretation. · Transformation notes
Day 2 of this lesson. Open this exact section in myPLTW (reached through Schoology), then do the work below.
Do this: Open Problem 6 in your myPLTW course shell and navigate to the current transformation activity, then explain bacterial transformation and antibiotic selection and predict plate results.
Attach your transformation notes and plate predictions to the Problem 6 portfolio.
The safety debate is done; transformation notes are the pre-lab milestone for Wednesday's wet lab, so confirm they are submitted today.
Plate predictions with justifications submitted as evidence.
All PLTW activities are completed inside the PLTW course environment — this page only gives direction. Submit producibles on Schoology.
Today's PLTW tracker
Check things off as you work, then submit. This tells Mr. Mendoza how you're doing so he can help the class. It does not replace turning in your producible on Schoology.
Use the code Mr. Mendoza gave you, not your name. Saved on this device.
Transformation, antibiotic selection, plasmid extraction, restriction digest, gel interpretation. · Transformation notes
Open Problem 6 in your myPLTW course shell and navigate to the current transformation activity, then explain bacterial transformation and antibiotic selection and predict plate results.
The safety debate is done; transformation notes are the pre-lab milestone for Wednesday's wet lab, so confirm they are submitted today.
This is how Mr. Mendoza sees the class keeping pace with PLTW. Be honest, it only helps if it is accurate.
🎯 Explain bacterial transformation and how antibiotic selection identifies successful clones.
- Define transformation and competent cells.
- Describe the heat-shock steps that drive plasmid uptake.
- Explain how an antibiotic-resistance gene enables selection.
- Predict which plate condition yields colonies and which does not.
- Write the expected result for each control plate.
Pre-lab: Transformation notes with definitions, heat-shock temperature diagram, antibiotic selection explanation, and predicted colony results for each control and experimental plate with justifications.
Submit on SchoologyUpload by 11:29 PM for full credit.
| Task | Who |
|---|---|
| Define transformation and competent cells. | _______ |
| Describe the heat-shock steps that drive plasmid uptake. | _______ |
| Explain how an antibiotic-resistance gene enables selection. | _______ |
| Predict which plate condition yields colonies and which does not. | _______ |
| Write the expected result for each control plate. | _______ |
Working solo? Put your own name in "Who" for every row.
- You explained transformation and antibiotic selection.
- You predicted colony growth across control plates.
Teacher-posted resources
Classroom documents for this lesson. Ones marked “Open the file” open right here; the rest are posted in Schoology. Use the label on each card to choose the right move.
Use this if you were absent, got stuck, or need another pass before you submit the lesson artifact.
Placement rationale
Matched Transformation, gel electrophoresis, molecular evidence by path:Biomedical-Innovations/Problem-6_Molecular-Biology/6.1_Molecular-Biology; keywords:transformation, plasmid, molecular. Score 146. Visibility: student-schoology (student-facing resource; link through Schoology rather than local path).
Use this if you were absent, got stuck, or need another pass before you submit the lesson artifact.
Placement rationale
Matched Transformation, gel electrophoresis, molecular evidence by path:Biomedical-Innovations/Problem-6_Molecular-Biology/6.1_Molecular-Biology; keywords:gel, molecular. Score 142. Visibility: student-schoology (student-facing resource; link through Schoology rather than local path).
Use this if you were absent, got stuck, or need another pass before you submit the lesson artifact.
Placement rationale
Matched Transformation, gel electrophoresis, molecular evidence by path:Biomedical-Innovations/Problem-6_Molecular-Biology/6.1_Molecular-Biology; keywords:transformation, molecular. Score 142. Visibility: student-schoology (student-facing resource; link through Schoology rather than local path).
How to get there: open the CMSD website, click Clever, sign in with your Microsoft (district) account, then open Schoology from Clever.
Lab & supplies
WebXam practice
Cumulative WebXam review
A quick mixed-review pulling questions from earlier units plus today, so the WebXam material stays fresh.
Where this leads — careers
What today's skills lead to. These are real health-science careers this course builds toward. Tap one to see, on the US Department of Labor's O*NET site, what the job actually involves, what it pays, and how fast it is growing.
What to do if you were absent
Today is individual PLTW work, so do exactly what we did in class, from home: complete the same PLTW target above, then submit your Pre-lab.
Open Schoology (CMSD) and keep goingHow to get there: open the CMSD website, click Clever, sign in with your Microsoft (district) account, then open Schoology from Clever.
Class still runs. Complete the online activity above (it's self-guided). Need the concept taught without a teacher? Use this authoritative explainer:
Learn.Genetics (University of Utah): gel electrophoresisOptional extra credit (async)
You've passed Unit 2, so the optional extra-credit track is open. Complete reserved-unit work from home (virtual labs included) for extra credit, all submitted on Schoology.
Open the extra-credit track- CompleteEvery required part of the artifact is present, nothing left blank.
- AccurateThe science and the data are correct and match the evidence.
- Scientific reasoningYou explain your claim with evidence and reasoning (CER), not just an answer.
- Professional communicationClear, organized, labeled, and written the way a clinician or scientist would.
- SubmittedTurned in the right way (Schoology for routine work) and confirmed.
Drop your Wed, Apr 21, 2027 · Transformation notes here. Use a clear file name (your initials + project). Routine work still goes to Schoology (via the CMSD portal).
Upload a project