How to Extract DNA from Spinach
As a middle school student, you must have some idea about DNA. Basically the abbreviation DNA stands for Deoxyribonucleic acid and it contains genetic instructions that play an important part in the development and functioning of every living organism. Apart from the biological perspective, DNA holds remarkable significance in certain crime investigations. Many crimes such as unsolved murders are often detected with the help of DNA which is extracted from the blood or any body organ. If there is a Science project coming your way, then extracting DNA experiment can prove to be a good idea.
This involves completely blending the spinach, which breaks down to its simplest cellular structure. Adding soap to the blended spinach helps further access the DNA, while alcohol makes the strands hold onto each other. Hence, to perform this experiment, make sure you have the following;
Instructions
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1
Things Required:
- ½ cup of Fresh Spinach
- Blender
- Strainer
- Stop watch or timer
- Rubbing Alcohol
- 1 cup cold water
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons dish washing soap
- Meat tenderizer (one pinch)
- Measuring glass
Preparing the Mixture
Blend ¼ tsp. salt, 1 cup water and ½ cup fresh spinach together in the blender at a high speed until you see formation of a soup like substance.
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2
Transferring into measuring glass
With the help of a strainer, pour the blended substance into a measuring glass or cup. Setting the stop watch for exactly 10 minutes, add the dish washing soap and wait for the time you have set.
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3
Adding Meat Tenderizer
After that, add a pinch of meat tenderizer to the prepared mixture slowly and thoroughly while observing any changes that take place.
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4
Adding Rubbing Alcohol
Have a glance at the reading on the measuring glass and add an equal amount of rubbing alcohol into the mixture very much carefully and accurately.
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5
Appearance of DNA
After adding rubbing alcohol, wait for about 3 minutes. The liquid mixture will turn murky and there will be an appearance of a cobwebby substance which will be the DNA.
