DNA Extraction

DNA Extraction from Strawberries is fun and can be done at home with just one special ingredient, extremely cold isopropyl alcohol. It's a great fun experiment to do.

Extracting DNA from strawberries is a fun and simple experiment that can be done at home using household items. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Materials:

• Fresh strawberries
• Ziploc bag
• Table salt Sea salt is best
• Dish soap or washing up liquid
• Water
• Meat tenderizer (optional)
• Kitchen Roll for the filter
• Rubbing alcohol (or its proper name Propan-2-ol or isopropyl alcohol)
• Small glass or plastic cup
• Wooden stick or skewer

Procedure:

1. Start by placing a few strawberries in a Ziploc bag and mashing them with your hands or a rolling pin until they are completely squished.
2. Put some isopropyl alcohol in the freezer. (Don't worry it will not freeze.)
3. Mix 1/4 teaspoon of table salt, 1 tablespoon (20ml) of washing up, and 1/2 cup of water in a separate cup. Stir the solution gently to avoid creating too many bubbles.
4. Pour the salt and soap solution into the Ziploc bag with the mashed strawberries and gently mix the contents together for about 5 minutes.
5. Add a pinch of meat tenderizer to the bag and continue to mix gently for another 2-3 minutes. The meat tenderizer helps break down the cells' proteins and release the DNA.
6. Place a coffee filter or kitchen roll over a clean cup and pour the bag's contents onto the filter. Let the mixture drain through the filter, and use a wooden stick or skewer to push the pulp through the filter to extract as much liquid as possible. This bit takes a long time.
7. Carefully pour about 2-3cm or 1 inch of rubbing alcohol into the cup, and carefully pour the strawberry mixture onto the surface of the alcohol. Do not mix the alcohol and strawberry mixture; you should see a clear separation of the two liquids.
8. Wait for a few minutes, and you should start to see white, stringy strands appear at the boundary between the alcohol and the strawberry mixture. These strands are the DNA! You can use a wooden stick or skewer to gently scoop out the DNA strands and examine them more closely.

Note: This experiment involves the use of rubbing alcohol, which can be dangerous if ingested or inhaled. Make sure to perform the experiment in a well-ventilated area, and avoid getting rubbing alcohol on your skin or in your eyes.