DNA Extraction Lab Analysis
In this lab, we asked the question if DNA could be separated from cheek cells, and when we would be able to see the DNA. We were able to see the DNA from our cheek cells, and mixing certain ingredients in order made this possible. We needed to swish our mouths with gatorade, and rub our teeth on our cheeks. The cheek cells come off because that is the type of cell they are. They are similar to our skin. Once we mixed our ingredients (salt, detergent, isopropanol alcohol), The bubbles from the alcohol made pulled the strands of DNA up to the top of the solution. The bubbles from the alcohol supports my claim because the DNA wouldn't be visible if the bubbles didn't pull it into the layer of alcohol. One error we initially did was incorrectly do the steps. We forgot to mix everything in the test tube. This could have made less DNA come to the surface. I also used too much gatorade the second time I tried the experiment, so it was much harder to see any of the DNA. First off, I recommend you make a check list with all the steps. It is extremely helpful to visually have your steps because it is so easy to just miss one. Also, take it slow! If you rush through the experiment you are likely to make a mistake. This lab was designed to give us the opportunity to understand how much DNA is actually in the cells. There is also a further meaning to this lab. This really explains how the cell membranes work! The only reason that we were able to see the DNA is because the ingredients basically dissolved the cell membranes. This allowed all the contents of the cell to be released. This is why the DNA was floating around. The DNA didn't become solid until it was introduced into the alcohol though. I defiantly think this relates to how much DNA is stored in the cell. It is also related to cell membranes containing all the contents of the cell. Cells wouldn't be around if there wasn't a membrane holding everything together. It is quite difficult to think of how the information of this lab could be used in another context. It defiantly could be used to extract DNA from fruit, and that could be pretty cool! You also challenge yourself to see what you can extract DNA out of. Is it possible to extract DNA out of an apple because the hard, crunchy membrane? That would be a pretty interesting test!
I don't have a picture of my extraction, but I did find a pretty cool picture of what the DNA might look like. Check it out!
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/07/DNA_purification.jpg
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