GMU:Life in an aquatic ecosystem/Dahye Seo

Dead Life Live Life

Description

* This project was started but not completed in SS 2023 and will be continued this semester.

Dead Life Live Life is a sound installation work that sonifies the movement of DNA. This work was inspired by the poetic movement of DNA in electrophoresis experiments. Dead Life Live Life explores the materiality of DNA itself rather than genetic analysis, which is the general purpose of DNA. “Dead life got the same material as live life”, biologist Lynn Margulis said in an interview. This could be paraphrased as “Dead life got the same DNA as live life”. Dead Life Live Life poetically represents the connection between life and death by sonifying the DNA movement of an old persimmon tree planted in my grandmother's house.

Technical solution

1. Biological part

Instruction of DNA analysis

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1) DNA Extraction of Persimmons

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2) PCR Experiment (DNA amplification) / Gel electrophoresis (DNA movement & visualization) .

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DNA of the persimmon is amplified through a PCR experiment. The amplified DNA is visualized in a gel electrophoresis experiment. DNA molecules dyed to respond to UV light glow and flow electromagnetically in an agar-gel chamber

2. Sound part

1) Sonification of DNA movementMax/Msp patch

Convert continuously changing number of RGB data (could be change to other data) of DNA movement animation to midi or frequency.

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2) Sound Design

Work in Biolab

2024.11.16. Sat

Introduction

Gel Electrophoresis Exercise

I started by relearning how to use a micropipette to pick up where I left off a year ago. I tested two DNA ladders and a green stain that I had stored in the freezer to see if they were still functional.

Procedure

recipe

Agarosegel : 0.5g Agarose, 50 ml TBE Buffer, 2.5 µl DNA Stein green

TBE Buffer for cover gel : 50 ml TBE Buffer, 1.25 µl DNA Stein green

Gel Electrophoresis  : 5V - 40 min -> 5V - 40 min -> 6V - 60 min (current 400 in every process)

The instructions say to electrophoresis at 5v for 40 min. Due to the short distance of DNA migration, I did 2 additional cycles.

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Result

First Column: 1 kb DNA ladder

Last to first and second Columns: 100 bp DNA ladder

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*DNA moves slow. Next time, reduce the percentage of agarose gel ?

How to set up the current for the gel electrophoresis? Does it impact the value of current for the movement of DNA?

ps. after around 50 hours. Still there remains the trace of the DNA movement.

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2024.11.18. Mon

Introduction

The purpose of this experiment is to find out how DNA migrates when exposed to UV light throughout the whole gel electrophoresis process.

Procedure

A 100 bp DNA ladder was electrophoresed at 50 volts, 40 minutes.

* Note

1. Reused the gel from 2 days ago.

2. Did not put stain green in the TBE buffer covering the gel.

Result

When the UV was shined throughout the experiment, the DNA movement is very blurry compared to when it was not.

However, I am not sure if this is due to the UV light or the reuse of the gel or the lack of stain green.

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2024.11.19. Tue

Introduction

DNA Extraction Exercise_ Kaki,Blueberry

Procedure

I followed the guide from Julian's workshop (see photo above)

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Result

Blueberries were successful in extracting DNA, but kaki failed again.

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2024.11.20. Wed

Introduction

DNA Extraction Exercise_ Kaki (ChatGPT), Leaf

- I failed to extract Kaki's DNA in my experiment yesterday. This time i followed Chat GPT's guide to extract Kaki's DNA.

- Alessandro's research results show that DNA is mainly extracted from the leaves of the persimmon. Since I can't get the leaves of the persimmon right now, I tried the experiment with the weeds on the roadside.

Procedure

-The DNA extraction experiment was performed following the guide of chat gpt for the persimmon and the existing instructions for the leaf.

*Chat GPT's guide

To extract DNA from kaki (persimmon) fruit, you'll need about 3-4 fruits to get a sufficient amount of DNA for analysis. Here's a step-by-step procedure:

### Materials Needed:

- 3-4 kaki fruits

- 5g washing up liquid or hand soap

- 2g salt

- 100ml tap water

- 100ml ice-cold alcohol (isopropyl alcohol or ethanol)

- Knife and fork for cutting and mashing

- Beaker or large bowl

- Coffee filter or fine sieve

- Saucepan for hot water bath

- Ice water bath

### Procedure:

1. Preparation: Peel the kaki fruits and cut them into small chunks. Remove any seeds.

2. Mashing: Mash the fruit chunks thoroughly in a beaker or large bowl to break down the cells.

3. Extraction Buffer: Mix the washing up liquid, salt, and tap water in a separate container. Stir gently to avoid creating bubbles.

4. Mixing: Add the extraction buffer to the mashed fruit and mix well.

5. Incubation: Place the mixture in a hot water bath at 60°C for 15 minutes. Stir occasionally to ensure even heating.

6. Cooling: Transfer the mixture to an ice water bath and let it cool for 5 minutes.

7. Filtration: Filter the mixture through a coffee filter or fine sieve into a clean container. This will remove solid debris.

8. DNA Precipitation: Slowly pour ice-cold alcohol down the side of the container to form a layer on top of the filtered mixture. DNA will precipitate out as a white, jelly-like substance at the interface.

9. Collection: Use a medicine dropper or a hook made from thin wire to collect the DNA precipitate.

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Result

Both the leaves and the persimmon failed to extract DNA. I was a little frustrated.

The guide for chat GPT seems unreliable. It seems like I need to extract DNA from the leaves persimmon tree.

But where do I get the leaves?

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