Testing gene constructs with transient assays

We've shown you how we make the DNA, and how we use a gene gun to insert into the nucleus, but what we haven't shown you yet is how we test our contructs. To test the constructs we use agro bacterium to insert the test sequence into a small part of the leaf tissue. We can then come back two days later and see how well the sequence worked. This allows us to test multiple sequences in just a few days rather than the many months it takes to make a full plant with the genes.

[@Yuriy_Sverchkov]

I think we'd like to see the results, now that it's been a few days.

[@dumbanddumber303]

yay glowing plant project, that's Hanson from the Dueber lab, yea? what's he doing there?!

[@rmmeyer69122]

My understanding of what your doing is adding the glowing gene into the plant cells in the leaf. Do you have to sequence the DNA specially for the tobacco plant or will the same DNA work for all of the plants your working with? Thanks

[@johnathanmoxin8492]

Hi fellas, I have donated to your Kickstarter campaign and have been watching the video updates. I happen to work in biomedical science and particularly in cell and molecular biology so I have an "insiders" understanding about some of these techniques you are carrying out. But I must admit that your explanations range from cavalier to esoteric for the general public. Like this video: why don't you explain that the construct is the artificial gene(s) that generates the fluorescence and does the bacteria transfect this gene into the plant cells? What is the point of this assay? And why would you post a video with out the result? Just wait another week or two and post longer video with some time lapse and explanation. I know you are hard at work in the labs but these videos don't seem to have much thought behind them. If you had someone draw up an animation like the tutorials on Kahn Academy it would go a long way to keep people interested and informed.

[@NectaviusWolfe]

They know their audience. You are in the minority in that you have experience in this field, whereas the majority of backers are likely just looking for a glowing plant (with the science videos being bonus). Hell, look at the channel name. ;-) Sure, some others would certainly love any additional science they get, but are not looking for a graduate lecture on the process. Also, I would expect that any feedback where you are seriously looking for response from Antony (and crew) would do better on the Kickstarter update itself, rather than the video. Good luck with your interrogation!

[@PermaFrostmusic]

I second what nectavius said here. For most people the scientific explanation is way too complicated and they are possibly not even interested in it. Maybe they will do a write up on the entire process later on or at the end of the project. If I remember correctly there was even a pledge in the kickstarter to get a book of how its done (I baked for that :D).

[@Taluvian]

If you have been following along the entire time you would completely understand the process.