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WebLab4: Exercise2
Extracting and Collecting DNA at Home: An Independent Scientific Study
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Objectives:
- To extract DNA from peas.
- To explain the role of each of the following factors in your extraction procedure:
- A blender
- A strainer
- Liquid detergent
- Adolph's meat tenderizer
- Rubbing alcohol
- To isolate DNA from another living organism of your choice - preferably a plant or vegetable.
- To write and electronically transmit a laboratory report based on the DNA extraction.
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Materials:
- A computer, a printer, and an ISP (Internet Service Provider).
- A can of peas, a blender, a strainer, dish-washing liquid, a
spoon for stirring, meat tenderizer, rubbing alcohol, and a stirring
rod (optional).
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Methods:
- Go to the
DNA Extraction Site entitled "How to extract DNA from anything
living" from the University of Utah. Read these webpages
and gather the equipment you need to proceed. By exploring the
site you will gain insight into the importance of each of the
materials required for successful completion of the extraction.
- Carry out the extraction procedure as outlined in the website,
working on peas.
- If you are successful, go to the next step. If you are unsuccessful,
repeat the procedure carefully until you achieve success.
- Carry out the extraction procedure on a different plant of your
choice (presumably some type of vegetable, fruit, or bean).
- Answer the following questions based on your experiences:
- What is the consistency of DNA?
- Which organism gave you the most convincing and satisfying
DNA extraction?
- How did you have to modify your procedure, if at all, to
extract DNA from your chosen plant?
- If you were to perform this procedure again, what organism
would you use to achieve the highest extraction yield? Why
would you pick this one?
- Write up your experiences with the plant of your choice (the
second DNA extraction) in the following laboratory report format:
- Explain why you chose your particular plant for the second
DNA extraction.
- Describe your method of extracting the DNA in detail. What
you are expected to do in this section is to explain each
step in the DNA extraction procedure including the reason
each step was necessary (e.g., what does the blender do to
the plant preparation? what do the liquid detergent, the meat
tenderizer and the rubbing alcohol do to your plant preparation?).
- Describe the results of your experiment in terms of the
quantity and quality of DNA you were able to extract.
- Discuss why you believe one organism may be a better source
of extractable DNA than another.
- This laboratory report is to be transmitted to me through email.
Work from the contact page of this website.
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