Project:

The Use of DNA Barcoding for validation of species of local ants collected in the courtyard of West Babylon Senior High School

Students:

Tyler Hurd, Pradhi Singh, Mason Rosario, Corey Garet

School:

West Babylon Senior High School, Suffolk

Mentors:

Andrea Durbin

Abstract:

The goal of our project is to identify the species of ants that live in the courtyard of the West Babylon Senior School. We collected our ant specimens with 2 methods. Some were collected by placing ant traps filled with sugary snacks in the ground. While some were collected by manually digging through dirt and placing them in containers. We expect to validate the species of our ants by extracting and then purifying their DNA followed by using BLAST and DNA Subway. Then we will use PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) on a specific ant gene such as COI (cytochrome oxidase subunit) to help identify the species of ant. The gel electrophoresis process will then be run on the DNA to ensure that DNA was extracted. Then we will send the DNA to the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory for it to be sequenced. Once sequenced, we will use BLAST and the DNA subway to find matches to the DNA we sent. We expect to find common ant species native to the Long Island area such as carpenter ants and pavement ants.

Poster:

Team samples:

See all samples for project