Sample information

The pharaoh ants were caught under a water heater at approximately 8P.M. on Wednesday November 12th and set is an alcohol solution inside the tube. They were then frozen until 11:30 A.M. Thursday November 13th, an hour before DNA extraction. They were alive and active at time of catching them.

Methods

(Read from top to bottom) DNA ladder, CO1-ant#1, CO1-ant#2, WOL-ant#1, WOL-ant#2

Results

The PCR phase successfully amplified the target DNA in the arthropod (CO1) reactions but failed to amplify the Wolbachia reaction for both specimens, meaning no Wolbachia was found in the ants as predicted. (figure 2)

Arthropod (CO1) PCR in both ant #1 and #2 yielded positive amplification, indicating the presence of viable arthropod DNA suitable for PCR. This was shown at 708 bp. This result was expected as one of the DNA pellets of ants was visible (figure3) and held up well throughout the DNA extraction process.

Wolbachia was absent in both ant #1 and ant #2. This negative result was expected as the percentage of non-infected ants are higher than infected ants. 

The samples analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis to separate and visualize the PCR products. The DNA ladder successfully separated into multiple distinct bands, allowing for the estimation of fragment sizes.