1. Why does Synechocystis not require electroporation or chemical pretreatment prior to transformation?
2. What specific genetic manipulation does Synechocystis readily allow that E. coli does not?
3. For transformation of Synechocystis, why do you first plate your transformant mixture on a filter on a BG – 11 plate with glucose, and the next day the TA transfers the filter with cells to a plate that contains kanamycin (rather than plating directly on kanamycin)?
4. What is the product of the psbC gene? What is its function?
5. In the PCR reaction, what is the role of each of the PCR reagents: primers, dNTPs, Mg2+, and Taq polymerase?
6. What are the considerations in determining the number of cycles needed for the PCR reaction?