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Green Fluorescent Protein

Green Fluorescent Protein is a glowing molecule scientists add to bacteria to see if new genes are working.

Think of it this way

You bake two batches of cookies. One batch is plain. The other has green sprinkles that glow under a black light. After baking, you shine the light and spot the green ones right away. Scientists use GFP the same way — cells that glow got the new gene, and dark cells did not.

Explaining green fluorescent protein by grade level

Some bacteria can glow green. Scientists put a special part inside them. That part makes a green light. You can see the glow in the dark.

Projects that explore green fluorescent protein

pGLO Plasmid Bacterial Transformation

Green fluorescent protein is a glowing molecule that scientists use as a visual signal inside living cells. In this experiment, you introduce the pGLO plasmid into E. coli bacteria — and when the transformation succeeds, the resulting colonies produce a fluorescent protein activated by arabinose sugar, making them visibly glow under the right conditions.

Hard