Name: ______________________________________________________

Mayra I
Period: _____

DNA Extraction Lab - Introduction

DNA can be considered the hereditary “code of life” because it possesses the information that
determines an organism’s characteristics and is transmitted from one generation to the next. DNA is
contained within the nucleus of almost every cell in the human body.

DNA is tightly packaged into

chromosomes to fit within the cell
nucleus. Human beings have 46
chromosomes in the nucleus of almost
every cell. You get 23 chromosomes from
your dad and 23 chromosomes from your
mom.

The length of DNA per cell is about

100,000 times as long as the cell itself.
However, DNA takes up only about 10% of
the cell’s volume. This is because DNA is
specially packaged to fit easily within a
cell's nucleus. If the 46 chromosomes from
one human cell were unwinded and lined
up end-to-end, they would measure
approximately 6 feet long!

Chromosomal DNA from a single cell is not visible to the unaided eye. However, when chromosomal DNA
is extracted from multiple cells, it can easily be seen and looks like strands of mucus-like, translucent
cotton. In this activity, you will isolate chromosomal DNA from your cheek cells.

How will we collect DNA?

You will first collect a sample of intact cells by swishing a small amount of sports drink in your mouth.
Sports drinks contain salt (sodium chloride), and therefore help prevent the cheek cells from breaking
open and releasing their DNA before they are collected. The salt also neutralizes the charge on the DNA.

You will then lyse (rupture) the phospholipid cell membranes of the collected cheek cells with a
detergent-based cell lysis solution (soap). This solution dissolves the phospholipid (fatty) bilayer of the
cell. Once the cell membranes are degraded (broken down), the cell contents flow out and create a soup
of dissolved membranes, cellular proteins, DNA, and other contents. This “soup” is called the cell lysate.
DNA is soluble in the cell lysate and is not visible to the unaided eye.

Making DNA Visible

DNA will not dissolve in ethanol (a type of alcohol). Therefore, you will apply a
layer of ethanol on top of the cell lysate to visualize the DNA. Once the ethanol
hits the cell lysate, DNA will precipitate out of the solution, forming a
translucent cloud of fine, stringy fibers at the point where the ethanol and cell
lysate meet. You can then transfer the precipitated DNA to study it further..

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DNA Extraction Procedure
1. Swish a small amount of sports drink in your mouth for 1 minute. Do NOT swallow. As you swish,
gently and continuously scrape the insides of your cheeks with your teeth to release the cheek cells.

2. After 1 minute, spit the sports drink back into the small cup. Then pour your “liquid cell collection”
into the test tube.

3. Gently add 1 pipet full of soap (about 10 drops) to your “liquid cell collection”.

4. Gently mix the soap into the liquid, but don’t create bubbles. Gently swirling for 5 seconds is enough.
The purpose is to mix the soap with the rest of the liquid. Let stand for 1 minute.

5. Holding the test tube at an angle, slowly add approximately 1 inch (5 mL) of cold 70% ethanol by
running down the sides of the test tube. Leave about an inch of space at the top if using a test tube.

You should have two distinct layers; do NOT mix the liquid cell layer with the ethanol layer.

6. Watch closely as the wispy white strands of translucent DNA begin to clump together where the
ethanol and liquid cell layer meet. The DNA will look like a cobweb extending up from the soapy layer.
Tiny bubbles in the ethanol will appear where the DNA precipitates.

7. Wash your hands and clean all equipment when finished.

DATA: Take a picture of your DNA and paste it below:

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ANALYSIS QUESTIONS

1. Describe how long strands of double-helical DNA can fit into the nucleus of a single cell.
It folds/packs it self and condenses into a really small
chromosomes.

2. Why was salt (sports drink) added to the cheek sample?

To help prevent the check cells from breaking open and releasing their DNA before they
are collected.

3. What does the cell lysis solution (soap) do to the cell membrane?

Breaks open the cell membrane and all the things that
were contained in it spreads into the solution.
4. How and where does the DNA from the cheek cells become visible?

Because DNA will not dissolve in cold ethanol which then will precipitate out of
the solution forming a translucent cloud, causing them to bunch up.
5. Why can you see the extracted DNA with the naked eye?

You can see the DNA because after it forms into a translucent cloud.

6. What do you think are some things that a scientist could do with the extracted DNA from a human
being or from any organism?

They could create foods bigger by adding GMOS or they are in the process of
perfecting the skill of cloning or forensic evidence.

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DNA Lab Follow-Up: Skills Questions
All living things have DNA. So it is possible to extract DNA from fruits and vegetables since they came
from plants which are alive. You collected your cells containing DNA from your cheek, to get the DNA
from a fruit, you can simply smash up the fruit and mix it with a buffer, add a pinch of salt, and then
continue with the same procedure you used in class with adding soap, swirling, adding ethanol and
collecting the DNA. A group of students conducted the following procedure to try to improve the amount
(get more) of DNA extracted from strawberries.

Trial 1
A strawberry was smashed in a baggie for 2 minutes. 10 ml of buffer were added to the bag and mixed
for 1 minute. The liquid was filtered into a test tube, then four drops of soap were added. After gentle
mixing, warm ethanol was added until the test tube was half full. DNA was removed from the border
between the ethanol and the filtrate and measured to determine the amount obtained.

Trial 2
A strawberry was smashed in a baggie for 2 minutes. 10 ml of buffer were added to the bag and mixed
for 1 minute. The liquid was filtered into a test tube, then four drops of soap were added. After gentle
mixing, water at room temperature was added until the test tube was half full. Very little to no DNA was
removed from the border between the water and the filtrate and measured to determine the amount
obtained.

Trial 3
A strawberry was smashed in a baggie for 2 minutes. 10 ml of buffer were added to the bag and mixed
for 1 minute. The liquid was filtered into a test tube, then four drops of soap were added. After gentle
mixing, cold ethanol was added until the test tube was half full. DNA was removed from the border
between the ethanol and the filtrate and measured to determine the amount obtained.
1. In the experiment above, what was the independent variable?

2. According to the background information you read about the strawberry lab, what is the purpose
of this variable?

3. What was the dependent variable?

4. Which trial serves as a control (to compare the other trials to)?

5. List as many things as you can that were kept the same between all three trials.

6. Why was it important to keep these things the same?

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