Cases

Sequence data for these cases are included with the Case It! v7.0.5 download, along with enzymes, probes, primers and other resources necessary to run procedures for case analysis. Links in the rightmost column are also listed on the Tutorials page. Ignore any comments in these videos about using the ‘photo’ feature of Case It to capture images of gels, blots, etc. That feature is no longer supported, so you will need to capture images using screenshots. Contact mark.s.bergland@uwrf.edu for an Instructor’s version including keys to cases.

Update 3/28/23: Mobile versions of selected cases are being added to the table below with screen-capture videos of the software in action, showing results of analyses. Mobile versions are suitable for use on mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones since they do not require downloading Case It software for case analysis. Mobile versions marked with an asterisk (*) include additional exercises to explore the nature of mutations associated with genetic disorders, using online NCBI and Protein Data Bank tools.

The table below is sortable and searchable (e.g., try entering ‘micro’, ‘ELISA’, ‘tree’ or ‘qPCR’ in the search box).

Cases / ExcercisesTypeProcedures
Important notes on program use
Cas9 as a programmable restriction enzyme
(Recreate Nobel Prize-winning experiments)
*Mobile version of Part 4
CRISPRDigestion of plasmids and oligonucleotides, DNA electrophoresis, and 5' labelling
CRISPR gene editing for transthyretin amyloidosis
(First successful use of CRISPR for in vivo therapy)
CRISPR gene editing for transthyretin amyloidosis
(First successful use of CRISPR for in vivo therapy)
Gene knockout using CRISPR/Cas9, use of NCBI tools including Genbank, Genome Data Viewer, Variation Viewer, mutation analysis, BLAST
Analyzing pioneering mRNA vaccine experiments
(Recreate Nobel Prize-winning experiments)
mRNAcytokine ELISA, flow cytometry (procedures explained in body of exercise)
Introduction to genetic disease casesGenetic
Introduction to genetic disease casesGeneticSouthern blot
Huntington's disease
*Mobile version
GeneticSouthern blot or PCR (triplet repeats),
sequence alignment, BLAST
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Mobile version
GeneticSouthern blot (missing exons)
Alzheimer's disease
*Mobile version
GeneticRFLP
Phenylketonuria (PKU)
*Mobile version
GeneticPCR, Dot blot
Fragile X syndromeGeneticSouthern blot (triplet repeats)
Cystic fibrosis
*Mobile version
GeneticPCR, RFLP, or Dot blot
Tay-Sachs disease
Mobile version
GeneticPCR, Dot blot
Breast cancerCancerPCR, Dot blot
Colon cancerCancerWestern blot, PCR, Dot blot, sequence alignment
Introduction to infectious disease cases
HIV / AIDS: U.S. and AfricaHIV / AIDS: U.S. and AfricaELISA, Western blot, 96-well PCR, sequence alignment, tree building
Human influenzaInfectiousELISA, 96-well PCR, sequence alignment, tree building
Avian influenzaInfectiousELISA, 96-well PCR
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)InfectiousELISA, 96-well PCR
West Nile virusInfectious. ELISA, 96-well PCR
EbolaInfectiousELISA, 96-well PCR
SalmonellaInfectiousRFLP, PCR, BLAST
Sexually-transmitted infectionsInfectiousPCR (multiplex), 96-well PCR
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
*Mobile version
InfectiousPCR, tree-building
Vibrio (cholera)InfectiousPCR, BLAST
MalariaInfectiousPCR (nested, multiplex), sequence alignment
Introduction to microarray casesMicroarray
Prostate cancerMicroarraySNP
PharmacogenomicsMicroarraySNP
Cardiac diseaseMicroarraySNP
HIV resistanceMicroarraySNP
Breast cancerMicroarrayExpression
MelanomaMicroarrayExpression
Herpes simplex MicroarrayExpression
Pesticides and virusesHoney bee ecologyPCR (multiplex)
Mites and virus diversityHoney bee ecologySequence alignment, tree building
Comparison of viral DNA in relation to mite loadsHoney bee ecologyQuantitative PCR (qPCR)
Determining absolute amounts of DNAHoney bee ecologyStandard curve
Bt CornPlantsPCR, BLAST
Cannabis - hemp vs. drugPlantsPCR (STRs)
Solving a murder caseForensicsRFLP
Thomas Jefferson / Sally Hemmings caseForensicsPCR (STRs)
Primate relationships - human, chimp, gorillaPhylogeneticsRFLP, tree-building
Squirrel taxonomyPhylogeneticsRFLP, tree-building
Color vision in primates and other animals (research project)PhylogeneticsSearch analysis, tree-building, undergraduate research
Digestion of bacteriophage Lamda DNAWet lab simulationRestriction enzyme digestion
Mapping of bacteriophage T7 DNAWet lab simulationRestriction enzyme digestion
PV92 Alu detectionWet lab simulationPCR
Build your own case

How to make screenshots of gels and other images:

Older versions of the Case It simulation had a ‘photo’ feature enabling users to take photos of gels and other images. This feature is no longer supported, so it is necessary to use other screen capture applications, such as those that come with the Windows and Mac operating systems. Snipping Tool (and the newer Snip & Sketch) allows you to capture portions of your screen on Windows computers. Open one of these applications, click ‘New’, and drag the screen to capture an image. The image can then be saved in various formats, although .png is preferred.

For the Mac, one way to capture the screen is to use the Preview application. Open Preview, then select ‘Take Screenshot’ from the File menu. There are three options: From Selection, From Window, and From Entire Screen. The first option is the easiest way to capture an image. The image can then be saved as a .png file. The Screenshot app (formerly Grab) can also be used to capture the screen.