Scribd
Upload
450 views

DNA Extraction

The document describes a laboratory experiment to extract DNA from bananas. The objectives are to extract banana DNA using household chemicals, describe the extracted DNA, and identify the role of various chemicals in the extraction process. The procedure involves mashing banana, adding a lysis buffer and detergent to break open cells, filtering, and adding ethanol to precipitate the DNA. The conclusion is that each material plays a role - the detergent breaks cell walls, salt makes DNA stick together, and ethanol separates DNA from other cell components. While DNA is too small to see, a large amount can be visible after extraction.

Uploaded by

heyahrox
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
450 views

DNA Extraction

The document describes a laboratory experiment to extract DNA from bananas. The objectives are to extract banana DNA using household chemicals, describe the extracted DNA, and identify the role of various chemicals in the extraction process. The procedure involves mashing banana, adding a lysis buffer and detergent to break open cells, filtering, and adding ethanol to precipitate the DNA. The conclusion is that each material plays a role - the detergent breaks cell walls, salt makes DNA stick together, and ethanol separates DNA from other cell components. While DNA is too small to see, a large amount can be visible after extraction.

Uploaded by

heyahrox
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

General Biology 1

Laboratory Report No. 1


DNA EXTRACTION

Introduction: Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the blueprint of life for organisms.


Molecular biology has revolutionized the technology on DNA extraction
for the purpose of studying its identity and other features. In this
activity, the class will learn how to extract DNA from banana (Musa
sp.). Ripe banana will be used since it is readily available in the locality
and it has soft tissues which are easy to break using physical ways as
mashing.

Objectives: To extract DNA from banana using household chemicals.


To describe the extracted DNA.
To identify the role of the lysis buffer, detergent solution, and ice-cold
ethanol in DNA extraction.

Materials: Banana fruit Funnel with cheesecloth


Dishwashing liquid, 3 tsp 2 100 mL beaker
Distilled water, 1/3 cup Resealable sandwich bag
Sodium chloride, 1 tsp Stirring rod or barbeque stick
Crushed ice in a styro-box Knife
Cold 70% ethanol Marker
Teaspoon
Procedure:
1. Place 70% ethanol on crushed ice.
2. Prepare DNA extraction buffer. In a 100 mL beaker, mix the following:
3 tsp dishwashing liquid
1 tsp salt
3. Add 1/3 cup distilled water. Mix well while avoiding bubbles.
4. Peel skin off ripe banana and cut fruit into 1-inch squares.
5. Place 10 squares of banana in a resealable sandwich bag. Softly mash the fruit
for 2 minutes or until the fruit is well mashed.
6. Add 7 tsp of the extraction buffer into the mashed fruit in the bag. Mix thoroughly
while avoiding bubbles for 1 minute. Set aside for 10 minutes.
7. Filter out the fluid using cheesecloth and collect the filtrate in a 100 mL beaker.
8. Using a spoon, remove any bubbles that formed.
9. Slowly add an equal volume of cold ethanol. Do not mix.
10. Observe immediately.

Data: Present your data here.

Interpretation, Analysis, and Discussion:

Provide a discussion using the following guide questions:


1. Did banana have DNA? How do you know? If so, what is the reason behind the
extracted DNA’s appearance.

Yes, banana have genes and DNA in their cells as seen from what we
have extracted. And the appearance of the extracted DNA of the banana is like
cotton wool of many small fibers just like any DNA with the shape of a double
helix.

2. What is the purpose of each step in the extraction of DNA?

Each procedure has a major purpose in the extraction of the DNA and can
greatly influence the outcome of the experiment. The crushing and mashing of
the banana breaks down the plant cell walls, the soap helps break down cell
membranes and release DNA, while the salt solution makes the DNA strands
stick together. Lastly, the cold ethanol brings the DNA out of the solution.

3. Are you seeing individual strands of DNA?


Yes, though the strands of DNA are not that visible from our solution.

4. Do you think the DNA in different plants is mostly alike or different?

No, I think the DNA in different plants vary in appearance such as their
color or consistency. However, the DNA in all of these plants is the same and
may have the same shape of a double helix as all the DNA molecules are made
from the same building blocks called nucleotides and these plants have many
genes in common having similar structures and using photosynthesis.

5. If DNA is so small that it fits in one cell, how are we able to see it with our eyes
after extraction?

We are able to see DNA strands with our eyes even though it’s so small
as there is a lot of it in every organism and removing it from millions of cells can
able us to see it without a microscope. And another reason is through chemical
reaction which is the procedure of adding the ethanol to precipitate the DNA as
DNA is not soluble in alcohol. The DNA material will be visible after pouring
alcohol into the solution as it separates other cell components from the DNA.

Conclusion: Provide a conclusion for the objectives.

In this experiment, each material and household chemicals plays a specific role in
helping extracting the DNA from the cells of the banana. For instance, the detergent
soap helps break down the plant’s cell wall as it breaks down lipids which makes the
membranes around the cell, releasing the DNA. Next, the salt solution combined with
the mashed banana helps the DNA strands to stick to each other in clumps and make it
waterproof so it won’t dissolve in water. Lastly, the cold ethanol alcohol creates a
boundary between the water and the banana. And the white, stringy, cotton wool with
small fibers DNA rises to the top of the solution as DNA is not soluble in alcohol thus it’s
separated from other cell components.

Application: When you eat fruits or plants, do their DNA become part of your DNA?

DNA, like proteins and complex carbohydrates are broken down into pieces.
Whenever we eat fruits or plants it gets digested from our mouth down to our digestive
tract with the help of enzymes which are designed to break down the DNA into tiny
pieces.
Thus, the DNA of the foods we eat cannot get into our DNA as it is long digested and
can no longer function as genetic material. And none of these DNA can harm us even if
some can survive our digestive system. DNA from what we eat are only digested by our
body and used as food.
References: Cite your references using the APA Format.

How to Extract DNA from Anything Living. Learn. Genetics. (2012, January 24). Retrieved from Genetic
Science Learning Center: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/labs/extraction/howto/

Crossley, M. (2013, December 5). Is Eating DNA Safe? Retrieved from The Conversation:
http://theconversation.com/is-eating-dna-safe-21016

Josephs, M. (2011, May 12). Find the DNA in a Banana. Retrieved from Scientific American:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/find-the-dna-in-a-banana-bring-science-home/

You might also like