← Back to Explore

Characterization of HeLa Cells Lacking Mitochondrial DNA

ISEF · 2014 Computational Biology and Bioinformatics

Overview

Damage to mitochondrial DNA is correlated with a wide array of diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and aging. MtDNA can be depleted experimentally by treating cells with ethidium bromide (EtBr). MtDNA content was monitored by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and gel electrophoresis, confirming that total mtDNA decreased in response to EtBr. Confocal fluorescence microscopy revealed structural changes, fragmentation, and decreased membrane potential, which indicate that the cells’ mitochondria lost bioenergetic function in response to EtBr. Through studying the changes that occur to the mitochondria as a result of depleted mtDNA, we can better understand its effect on a cell’s function.

Competition history

  • ISEF 2014 Computational Biology and Bioinformatics · Entry CB005

Resources

Related projects

Closest projects by meaning, across every fair and year in the corpus.

Source: Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair

Save projects to your library

Sign in with Google to keep track of projects you find interesting, organized into folders. Browsing stays public.

Continue with Google