Lab Manual Features
Below is a sample lab from the Lab Manual.
|11.3 DNA Extraction from Strawberries
Introduction and Background
DNA is found in all living things, so it should be possible to extract the DNA from cells or tissue. All we need to do is disrupt the cell’s plasma membrane and nuclear envelope, make the DNA clump together and voila, DNA extraction is possible. Plant material is easy to use and DNA extractions from onion, bananas or wheat germ are common classroom activities or demonstrations.
Plants used in agriculture and horticulture are often artificially selected for their large flowers and fruits. Strawberries are no exception. A reason for the size of today’s large supermarket strawberries is the octaploid nature of their cells. With eight sets of chromosomes, they have plenty of DNA for classroom extraction. Perhaps this helps compensate for their lack of flavor!
Safety glasses should be worn. Other items like aprons or gloves are optional. No special disposal practices are required. At the end, baggies can be zipped and discarded, liquid material can be rinsed down the drain.