A simple way to extract DNA from a banana and other types of cells.
Difficulty Level: easy Time Required: 15 minutes
Here's How:
- Gather together a banana, an onion, a chicken liver, salt, warm water, a blender, liquid soap, toothpicks, a strainer, a glass jar and rubbing alcohol.
- Cut your banana, onion and liver into tiny pieces.
- Place your banana pieces in the blender, add a teaspoon of salt and slightly cover the mixture with warm water.
- Mix in the blender for 5 to 10 seconds making sure the mixture is not too runny.
- Pour the mixture into the glass jar through the strainer. You want the jar to be about half full.
- Add about 2 teaspoons of liquid soap and gently stir the mixture. You should try not to create bubbles when stirring.
- Carefully pour the rubbing alcohol down the side of the glass stopping near the top.
- Wait for 5 minutes.
- Use the toothpicks to extract the DNA that floats to the surface.
- Repeat this procedure for the onion and the chicken liver.
- When pouring the alcohol, make sure that two separate layers are being formed (The bottom layer being the banana mixture and the top layer being the alcohol).
- When extracting the DNA, twist the toothpick slowly. Be sure to only remove the DNA from the top layer.
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