Laboratory Activity 7

ISOLATION OF DNA

Group 2

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Questions for Research
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 Laboratory Activity 7
ISOLATION OF DNA

I. Introduction
Nucleic acids include both the DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA
(Ribonucleic acid). DNA is the fundamental material of all living organisms. The
major building block of genes is the DNA. It is a very long molecule. DNA
contains messages that the body needs like an instruction book. DNA is a polar
compound because it contains many negative charges due to the phosphates in
the sugar-phosphate backbone of each DNA strand.

II. Object
1. To isolate DNA from fruits or vegetable.
2. Discover the fundamental properties of DNA and the fundamental methods
required to isolate it.

III. Materials Required

Any fruit or vegetable Isopropyl alcohol Graduated cylinder
Mortar and pestle or
Detergent Glass rod
Blender
Salt Beakers Cheesecloth or Gauze

IV. Procedure
A. DNA OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLE
1. Cut your fruit/vegetable until approximately 30-50 g have been obtained.
2. Transfer the fruit/vegetable to a mortar and pestle/blender.
3. Prepare a precipitating solution as follows: Transfer 30 mL of warm
water into a container. Add 1 teaspoon of detergent and mix well. Add ½
teaspoon of salt and mix until dissolved.
4. Transfer the mush from the mortar/blender into the beaker containing
Solution A.
5. Stir the mixture for 5 minutes.
6. Transfer the liquid into a new beaker by filtering the mixture into a
cheesecloth or a strainer with any cotton clothes that may help in filtering
your sample.
7. Try to obtain as much of this liquid as possible, as it contains the DNA.
8. Add cold isopropyl alcohol until you have the same amount of alcohol in
the test tube as the mixture.
 9. Tilt your test tube and slowly pour isopropyl alcohol into the tube down
the side so that it forms a layer on top of the mixture. If this is done
correctly, you should see 2 separate phases. Alcohol is less dense than
water so it floats on top. Look for clumps of white stringy stuff where
water and alcohol layers meet.

B. YOUR DNA
1. Add tablespoon of salt to 2 cups of water.
2. Gargle ¼ cup of saltwater for 1 minute, and spit it in a glass cup. Make
sure your container is see-through so you can see the floating DNA.
3. Add 2 drops of dish soap in the gargle mixture and stir gently.
4. Add rubbing alcohol until the volume is the same with the mixture
5. Wait for 3 minutes and look at DNA floating in the solution.

V. Questions for Research

1. Do only living organisms contain DNA?

 No, not only living organisms contain DNA. DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is
the genetic material that carries the instructions for the development,
functioning, and reproduction of all known living organisms. It is found in the
cells of all living organisms, including plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria.
However, DNA can also be found in non-living things, such as viruses. Viruses
are considered to be non-living because they lack the ability to reproduce on
their own and do not carry out metabolic processes. Yet, they still contain
genetic material in the form of DNA or RNA (ribonucleic acid). All the self-
reproducing cellular organisms so far examined have DNA as the genome.
However, a DNA-less organism carrying an RNA genome is suggested by the
fact that many RNA viruses exist and the widespread view that an RNA world
existed before the present DNA world. DNA is the only molecule capable of
reproducing itself. DNA is present in almost all living cells of all living things.

2. What is the role of salt in DNA isolation? Detergent? Isopropyl alcohol?

 Protein chains that bind to the nucleic acids are broken apart by salt while
the cell membrane and organelles' phospholipid bilayers are broken down by
the detergent and then the DNA is precipitated with Isopropyl alcohol. 
VI. Conclusion

In this activity we test for the DNA isolation from pomelo fruits as we discover
the fundamental properties of DNA and the fundamental methods required to
isolate it. After adding dish soap, salt, water, and ethanol to the fruit, DNA would
be drawn out. The experiment's goal was to examine and extract the fruit's DNA.
Based on the outcomes of the trial, this was accomplished. The pomelo provided
enough DNA for extraction. The detergent was added to the DNA extraction
solution, which causes the fruit's cells to break apart and release the DNA.
Because salt prevents the proteins in the fruit's cells from separating from the
rest of the extraction solution, it was employed in the DNA extraction solution.
Since it causes the DNA strands to group together and become visible to the
naked eye, ethanol was utilized. While the molecules are insoluble without the
ethanol, the DNA does not cluster together. Because the extraction solution
separated and broke down the cell walls and components, the copy of DNA in the
nucleus could be seen with the naked eye.By physically crushing the fruit, the
cell walls were broken in order to retrieve the DNA. The cell membranes, nuclear
membranes, and cell walls were all destroyed by the chemical (detergent)
approach.

VII. References

Hiyoshi, A., Miyahara, K., Kato, C., & Ohshima, Y. (2011). Does a DNA-less cellular
organism exist on Earth? Search for a DNA-less microbe. Genes to Cells: Devoted to
Molecular & Cellular Mechanisms, 16(12), 1146–1158.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2443.2011.01558.x
LumenLearning)Boundless, B. (now. (2017, May 6). 2.5.3: DNA and RNA. Biology
LibreTexts; Libretexts.
https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Microbiology/Microbiology_(Boundless)/
02%3A_Chemistry/2.05%3A_Organic_Compounds/2.5.03%3A_DNA_and_RNA
Why is isopropanol used in DNA extraction? (2022, July 4). Byjus.com; BYJU’S.
https://byjus.com/question-answer/why-isopropanol-is-used-in-dna-extraction/
Strawberry DNA Forever. (n.d.). Uga.edu. Retrieved July 13, 2023, from
https://extension.uga.edu/content/dam/extension/programs-and-services/
science-behind-our-food/documents/strawberrydnaforever.pdf

DOCUMENTATION