DNA Fingerprinting and Whole Genome Replication for the Identification of Bacteria

DNA Fingerprinting and Whole Genome Replication for the Identification of Bacteria

Prokaryotes are typically clonal in nature due to their rapid reproduction by binary fission, but some molecular genetics methods exist to differentiate various bacterial species. In this experiment, common bacteria were grown in nutrient broth before their DNA was extracted. Repetitive DNA sequences that are universal to a variety of bacteria were then targeted in the polymerase chain reaction (REP-PCR) using ERIC primers.The bacterial DNA was then quantified using gel electrophoresis to form a ―fingerprint‖of distinct bands for each bacterial species. The Repli-g procedure was then performed to amplify the amount of DNA going into the REP-PCR replication, while testing for significant errors in whole genome replication.