Strawberry DNA Extraction
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:
STORY:
http://sites.jmu.edu/chemdemo
JMU Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry