San Antonio, Texas
June 10, 2012
June 10, 2012
June 13, 2012
2153-5965
Chemical Engineering
9
25.473.1 - 25.473.9
10.18260/1-2--21231
https://peer.asee.org/21231
720
Victor Ugaz is an Associate Professor and Kenneth R. Hall Development Professor in the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Dwight Look College of Engineering at Texas A&M University. He joined the faculty in Jan. 2003. His research focuses broadly on harnessing the unique characteristics of transport and flow at the microscale, with specific interests in microfluidic flows (both single-phase and nanoparticle suspensions), microchip gel electrophoresis, PCR thermocycling in novel convective flow devices, and construction of 3D vascular flow networks for biomedical applications. Ugaz earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in aerospace engineering at the University of Texas, Austin, and a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Northwestern University. He currently serves as a Deputy Editor of the journal Electrophoresis, Past President of the American Electrophoresis Society, and Chair of the interdisciplinary Professional Program in Biotechnology (PPiB) at Texas A&M.
DNA to Go: A Do-it-Yourself PCR Thermocycler LabThere is currently a need for innovative undergraduate educational experiences that unify andreinforce fundamental principles at the interface between physics, molecular biology, and thechemical sciences. These experiences also empower students by helping them recognize how thisknowledge can be applied to develop new products and technologies that benefit society. Thispresentation describes our efforts to address this need by creating innovative hands-on labactivities that introduce chemical engineering students to molecular biology by challenging themto harness natural convection phenomena to perform DNA replication via the polymerase chainreaction (PCR).Experimentally, we have constructed convective PCR stations incorporating a simple design forloading and mounting the cylindrical PCR reactor between independently controlled thermalplates. Each station independently interfaces with a Windows-based PC via a USB connection,and is operated by a custom designed software package that enables temperature profiles to beeasily input and monitored. A motion analysis microscope enables flow patterns inside theconvective PCR reactors to be directly visualized. We have also developed undergraduate coursemodules focused on modeling the problem of thermal convection in a fluid layer heated frombelow (the Rayleigh-Bénard problem) in the context of geometries that could be used to designlava lamps. These materials directly tie into our core transport sequence core transport sequencecourses. After the fundamental problem is introduced and connected with the core coursematerial, the students are walked through a hands-on CFD exercise, then assigned a problem thatgives them an opportunity to explore the effects of varying parameters in the model. Initialfeedback has been very positive, as the computer simulations seem to excite student interestbecause they can actually “see” what they have been learning in the lecture. These capabilitiesuniquely enable us to connect the theoretical/computational, experimental, and biochemicalreaction into a unified experience.
Ugaz, V. M., & Priye, A., & Hassan, Y. A. (2012, June), DNA to Go: A Do-it-Yourself PCR Thermocycler Lab Paper presented at 2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, San Antonio, Texas. 10.18260/1-2--21231
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