Photo by V. Miller
July 25, 2007
DNA Fingerprinting and Antibiotic Resistance
Using DNA Fingerprinting to Find Patterns of Antibiotic Resistance in E. Coli
Taylor Jones, 13, Maryville, Tenn.
The Science Channel "Space Camp" Award, Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge, 2006
Project background: Farm animals such as chickens and cows are often routinely fed antibiotics to ward off bacterial infections. Studies have suggested that this practice makes the animals become resistant to the antibiotics. When people consume the animals' meat, they, too, may develop antibiotic resistance. That means that if they developed a bacterial infection, the antibiotic might not be effective against it. Taylor decided to analyze bacteria isolated from farms across the United States for patterns of antibiotic resistance.
Tactics and results: Taylor worked with Escherichia coli collected from 16 farms. He used a method called DNA fingerprinting to test the bacterium's resistance to 18 different antibiotics.
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| Photo by V. Miller |
Taylor found that the majority of the E. Coli bacteria were resistant to the same three antibiotics. He also discovered that antibiotic resistance appears to be on the rise.
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| Photo by Bill Fitzpatrick/DCYSC |
2005 DCYSC Project: A Germicidal Light Zaps the Bugs that Bite
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