Lab Simulation – Gene Sequence Comparison using BLAST
Simulation Tool:
NCBI BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool)
🔗 https://blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Blast.cgi
Instructions:
-
Go to the BLAST homepage: https://blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Blast.cgi
-
Click on “nucleotide BLAST” under the “Basic BLAST” section.
-
In the “Enter Query Sequence” box, paste the following sample DNA sequence:
-
Under “Database”, select:
-
“Nucleotide collection (nr/nt)”
-
-
Leave all other settings as default, and click “BLAST” at the bottom.
-
Once the results are generated:
-
Scroll to the Descriptions and Alignments sections.
-
Identify the organism from which the top hit is derived.
-
Record the % identity, E-value, and alignment length.
-
Student Task:
Submit a short lab report that includes:
-
A screenshot of your BLAST results.
-
A summary of the organism matched, with:
-
Scientific name
-
% identity
-
E-value
-
Function of the matched gene (if available)
-
-
A short reflection (100–150 words) on how BLAST can be useful in genetics and medicine.
Submission Instructions:
-
Upload as: PDF or Word document
-
File Name Format:
YourName_BLAST_Report