DNA extraction
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/squishy-science-extract-dna-from-smashed-strawberries/
Introduction: All living organisms have DNA, which is the blueprint for everything that happens inside an organism’s cells. Overall, DNA tells an organism how to develop and function, and is so important that this complex compound is found in virtually every one of an organism’s cells. In this activity, you’ll make your own DNA extraction kit from household items and use it to separate DNA from living things. DNA is extracted from human cells for a variety of reasons. With a pure sample of DNA, you can test a newborn for a genetic disease, analyze forensic evidence, or study a gene involved in cancer. Extraction of DNA is the first step in many of these molecular procedures. For this experiment, you can choose from one of the following procedures.
Directions:
1. For this experiment, choose one of the following procedures:
• Scientific American. “DNA Extraction From Strawberries” Jan 2013, Web.
• “How to Extract DNA from Anything Living” from Genetic Science Learning Center. Web, n.d.
Refer to the Experimental Design and Conduct Terminology (.pdf) handout for definitions and explanations of scientific terms.
2. You may choose to extract DNA out of strawberries or any living thing. Then design and conduct an experiment using one of the following options:
• Experiment with other organism’s DNA sources (ex. Strawberries vs. Bananas). Which source gives you the most DNA? How can you compare them?
• Experiment with different soaps and detergents. Do powdered soaps work as well as liquid detergents? How about shampoo or body scrub? Try out different soaps and detergents. Do powdered soaps work as well as liquid detergents?
• Experiment with leaving out or changing steps. You’ve been told you that you need each step, but is this true? Find out for yourself. Try leaving out a step or changing how much of each ingredient you use.
• Your control group will be the experiment as it is instructed and your experimental group will be your altered procedure (ex. different soap, leaving out a step).
3. Write a lab report and include pictures of yourself conducting your experiment and pictures of the results. Make sure your lab report includes a paragraph introduction on DNA extraction, materials and methods, results and discussion. Remember to state your hypothesis. Refer to the Guidelines for Writing Experimental Lab Reports (.pdf) handout and the BIO 101 Lab Report Template (.docx) for detailed instructions on the format of this assignment.
Assignment: Upload your completed assignment to the Project 3 DNA Extraction Dropbox.
