Robiquetia merrillii

On September 30th, 2011, Robert Lavender and Ashley Orr extracted DNA from two Orchid species, Plectrelminthus caudatus and Polystachya zambesiaca. On October 6th, 2011, these and two previously extracted DNA samples, Robiquetia merrillii and Stereochilus hirtus, were prepared for a PCR reaction. The goal of this PCR reaction was to amplify the atp-F region of the chloroplast DNA of our orchids. Two DNA samples for each of the four orchid species were set up, as well as a negative control (water). These samples were then loaded into a gel using the reaction mixture and loading dye to prepare them for gel electrophoresis. After the gels were run, they were imaged using ultraviolet light.

All of our reactions were highly successful with the exception of our last two lanes, both originating from Stereochilus hirtus. This may have been due to the age of the DNA sample. Both qualified and quantified data are displayed below.

Gel with DNAs 3-4, 3-8, 366, and 376

Lane	DNA Code	Speices/ Marker	Success
1	–	Molecular Mass Ruler	N/A
2	–	Negative Control (Water)	N/A
3	3-4	Plectrelminthus caudutus	++
4	3-4	Plectrelminthus caudutus	++
5	3-8	Polystachya zambesiaca	++
6	3-8	Polystachya zambesiaca	++
7	366	Robiquetia merrillii	++
8	366	Robiquetia merrillii	++
9	376	Stereochilus hirtus	–
10	376	Stereochilus hirtus	–