AMEL gene Evolution Kit (DNA electrophoresis)

The scenario is a deepening of the PCR kit "Phylogeny of the AMEL gene of amelogenin" ref 117141.

Amelogenin is quantitatively the major protein of the dental enamel matrix. This protein is essential for the formation of well-mineralized teeth.
In animals that have lost their dentition like birds or whales, it has been shown that amelogenin is no longer produced.
During this DNA electrophoresis activity, the concepts of mutations and selection pressure are addressed. The comparative analysis of genes, which complements the experiment, shows that the AMEL gene is particularly well conserved during evolution in animals that need strong teeth for their diet. Thus, a functional gene with few mutations is found in humans and lemurs.
Birds that lost their teeth 116 million years ago, as well as whales more recently (middle Miocene), still retain traces of an unexpressed AMEL gene in their genome.
The student will deduce that tooth loss is an evolutionary innovation and will observe that a non-functional gene accumulates more and more mutations over time.

Format: 20 tests, 80 deposits to analyze + 10 deposits (molecular weight)
Duration of the experiment: 60 min
Storage duration: 6 months
Storage condition: -20 °C
Separation of DNA fragments: 1% agarose gel

- 4 calibrated DNA tubes ready to be deposited - 1 tube of molecular weight ladder