A fundamental and critical structure of every living thing is DNA. A human cell holds about 2 meters of DNA and typically an adult is composed of 60 trillion cells. Try to wrap your head around how long this would be if it were linked end-to-end! Now you have the opportunity to touch and feel DNA that is very similar to your own by extracting DNA from the cells of a strawberry.Supplies:
- 1 Ziploc baggie
- 1 Strawberry
- 10 ml of DNA extraction Buffer
- 1 Sheet of a moistened paper towel
- 20 ml of ice cold isopropyl alcohol
- 1 Clear test tube
- 1 coffee stirrer
Directions:
- Clean the strawberries by removing the green sepals.
- Place the strawberries into the ZiplocTM bag and seal shut.
- Squeeze or knead the ZiplocTM bag for a few minutes to break up the strawberries.
- Add the DNA Extraction Buffer (soapy salt water) and continue to knead the mixture.
- Filter the mixture through a moistened paper towel set in a funnel. Collect about 3 ml of clear liquid in the test tube.
- Carefully pour the cold isopropyl alcohol down the side of the tube so that it forms a separate layer on top of the strawberry liquid.
- Watch for about a minute. When you see the white fluffy cloud at the interface between the two liquids, use the coffee stirrer to collect it.
- View the DNA on the coffee stirrer. Describe the material’s looks when viewed with the naked eye and when viewed with a microscope.
Source:
http://www.contemporaryissues.tcu.edu/
Posted 10/23/2009