Abad, Ysabel Francesca T.
BSNR 106
Far Eastern University –Manila
Medical Technology Department
MTY1109 –Biochemistry Laboratory
Activity # 2
BANANA DNA EXTRACTION
Cells are the building blocks of all living things. The human body is composed of around
one trillion cells. Each cell has a nucleus and other major organelles like cytoplasm,
mitochondria, plasma membrane etc. In a nucleus, the DNA molecule is packaged into thread-
like structures called chromosomes. Each chromosome is made up of DNA and proteins called
histones. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the hereditary material in almost all living organisms
and contains the instructions needed for an organism to develop, survive, and reproduce.
The first and foremost procedure scientists carry out in molecular biology labs is to
extract the DNA of the cells they are studying –all tests, analyses and if needed sequencing (the
reading of each DNA letters) comes after that. In this lab we will use a DIY (Do-it-yourself)
technique that will allow you to extract DNA from living plant tissues (any fruit or vegetable of
your choice) using everyday chemicals you can find in your kitchen. Do not forget to take a
video of you while doing the experiment and take some pictures of your results!
I. Objectives (formulate 3 objectives for this experiment):
A. To have a successful and effective extracted DNA from the material given.
B. To have the opportunity to use prior and the recently acquired knowledge regarding the
structure and the function of DNA.
C. To know what does a detergent do to extract DNA.
II. Materials:
½ peeled banana (or onion) chilled isopropyl alcohol (90%)
distilled water table salt
coffee filter (or cheesecloth, or clear narrow tube or jar (such as a spice jar)
handkerchief)
spoon
plastic sealable bag
*optional: bamboo skewer & capped tube
shampoo
plastic cup
III. Procedure:
1. First you will need to put the ½ banana and ¼ cup distilled water in the plastic bag, seal
the bag and mash them to make your slurry.
Abad, Ysabel Francesca T. BSNR 106
2. In the plastic cup, mix a solution of 1 tsp. shampoo, 2 pinches of salt and 4 tsp. distilled
water. Stir this solution slowly for about a minute until the shampoo dissolves in the
water.
3. Now you will add 2 tsp. of the banana slurry to the soap solution and stir for five minutes.
4. Next, make a well with the coffee filter and place it in the empty cup. Do not let the filter
touch the bottom of the cup. Pour in the liquid mixture and let it filter.
5. Fill the narrow tube with 2 tsp. of cold isopropyl alcohol. Very slowly, add 2 tsp. of the
filtered banana mixture so that there are two layers of liquid.
6. 6.Let the tube sit for 2-3 minutes without disturbing the solution. You will see the
clear/white DNA precipitate into the alcohol layer.
7. 7.If you wish to keep the DNA remove it using a bamboo skewer (a twirling motion
works best) and place it in a capped tube filled with alcohol.
IV. Guide Questions:
Explain your answer and cite references in APA format.
1. What does mashing do to the fruit?
- Mashing the banana helps breaking the cell walls.
2. Why did you add detergents?
- Adding the detergents found in the shampoo disrupts the cell and nuclear membranes of
the cell to produce the DNA.
3. What do you think the ethanol does? Why can’t we use room temperature ethanol?
- The ethanol helps the associate nucleic acid with the matrix, and to remove the proteins.
The ethanol is chilled because the colder it is the greater amount of DNA can be
precipitated.
4. To extract DNA from cells, what must you isolate it from in the case of a plant such
as strawberry?
- All of the other parts of the cell such as the cell wall, cell membrane, nuclear
membrane, mitochondria, vacuoles, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes,
etc.
5. Look at your container, what do you see in the top portion of the liquid?
-Upon looking at the container I see a stringy substance which is the DNA which is
located at the top portion of the liquid.
6. Is the DNA you extracted is pure? What are the possible impurities?
- No. The DNA is not pure because of the cellular and histone protein.
7. What can we do with the DNA once we have purified it? Discuss different
techniques and technologies associated with this.
- When there is a cleared lysate produced, DNA can be decontaminated by numerous at
that point. Evaluations from chromosomal DNA are done by PCR-based technologies.
8. Imagine that there is an E. coli outbreak in your area, and you would like to test the
kangkong from your local grocery store. How could you modify this protocol to
extract DNA from the kangkong (to identify the species) and check for presence or
absence of E. coli? Keep in mind that (i) E. coli is free-living and not an
endosymbiont, and (ii) plant cells are encased in both a cell membrane and cell wall.
- E.coli is free-living, the kangkong should not be washed or preserved in alcohol.
Because this would wash the E.coli since the plant cells have cell walls, modifications to
Abad, Ysabel Francesca T. BSNR 106
the cell lysis may include adding a cellulase, using a stronger lysis buffer or incubating
for a longer period of time to allow a more efficient lysis.
V. Documentation
Figure 1.0
Here are the materials needed for
the experiment: Distilled water,
chilled isopropyl alcohol, plastic
cups, banana, small container,
spoon, filter, salt and a resealable
plastic.
Fig. 1.1
The first step of the experiment
which is putting ½ banana and ¼
distilled water in the plastic bag to
mash and make them slurry.
Fig. 1.2
Mixing 1 tsp of shampoo, 2 pinches
of table salt, and 4 tsp of distilled
water until the shampoo dissolves in
the water.
Abad, Ysabel Francesca T. BSNR 106
Fig. 1.3
Adding 2 tsp of banana slurry to the
soap solution and mixing it for about
5 minutes.
Fig. 1.4
Pouring and filtering the soap
solution with banana slurry.
Fig. 1.5
Filling the tube with 2 tsp of cold
alcohol and 2 tsp of the filtered
banana mixture. Letting it sit for 2-3
minutes you can now see a
formation of a white DNA
precipitate.
Reference
Activities: Classroom Activities in Plant
Biotechnology (n.d.). Retrieve from
Abad, Ysabel Francesca T. BSNR 106
https://www.apsnet.org/edcenter/disimpactmngmnt/labexercises/PlantBiotechnology/Pages/
Activity1.aspx#:~:text=wooden%20applicator%20stick.-,Why%20can't%20we%20use%20room
%20temperature%20ethanol%3F,the%20ice-cold%20ethanol.)
Lesson: Extract DNA from a Banana (2011). http://teachers.egfi-k12.org/lesson-extract-dna-
from-a-banana-2/
