Rabbits, rats, mice, and dogs are just a few of the animals that have been used in labs for years to further scientific knowledge. Because the cost of these tools is prohibitive for most science classrooms, living organisms may easily be substituted and used for these measurements. Students should realize the importance of organisms as standards of measurement and experimentation. The following labs use the yeast Saccharomyces cerviasae as the standard for comparison of the mutagenic effects of UV light. Yeast are ideal for these activities for a number of reasons.
Yeast cells are eukaryotic and are more similar to human cells than bacteria.
Ultraviolet light is used in these activities because it is known to cause genetic damage. Because of the ozone layer controversy, damage caused skin by UV light is an important topic. Topics like sunscreens and tanning beds can also be discussed. The three labs illustrated below may be done in succession or spread out in different areas of the biotechnology unit. The first lab is a simple survival curve that demonstrates the effects of ultraviolet light on cells.