DESCRIPTION:
This simple activity can make DNA a real and visual thing for students.
TOPICS COVERED:
– DNA
MATERIALS NEEDED:
– strawberry
– Ziploc bag
– extraction buffer (90mL of water, 50mL of soap, 1.5g of salt)
– funnel
– cheesecloth
– test tube
– cold ethanol
– stirring rod
PROCEDURE:
1. Put a strawberry in the bag, and squash it up well
2. Add 10mL of extraction buffer, and mix well
3. Filter the solution into a test tube using cheesecloth and funnel
4. Gently add cold ethanol until the test tube is ~1/2 full
5. DNA should precipitate out in strands, and it can be caught on a stir rod
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
This is more for students to do themselves, as it would be hard to see one central demo of this.
SAFETY:
Safety goggles should be worn at all times
REFERENCES:
Britos, L.; Goyenola, G.; Orono, S.U. Simple Protocol for Secondary School Hands-on Activity. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education. 2004, 32 (5), 341-347.