Observing Morphological Variations in Some Plant Fruits, Fruit Flies and Humans

INTRODUCTION
Genetics is the biological discipline
concerned with biological properties transmitted
from one generation to another and is of course,
centered with genes. To better understand the
concept of genes, it is important to have
knowledge as to where they are locatedin the
deoxyribonucleic acid or simply known as DNA.
The discovery of the DNA molecule, as
well as its double helix structure, was a landmark
in twentieth century biology because it provided
explanations as to how the genetic information is
carried in chemical form and how it is accurately
copied. The genetic information stored and
carried in the linear sequences of nucleotides in
the DNA contains the instructions for all the
proteins the organism will synthesize and is said
to comprise its genome (Alberts et al., 2008).
Thus, the exercise was aimed to have
students learn DNA extraction techniques and
distinguish them from one another using plant
and animal cells as models as well as association
with the extraction methods used in DNA
extraction.
MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the extraction of DNA from plant cells,

the cells were mechanically disrupted with a
blender. Then, the pulp was added and stirred for
30-60 seconds into 20 ml extraction solution
which is a solution of meat tenderizer, salt and
dishwashing liquid. The solution was then filtered
and made sure to be not too thick and not too
watery. After which, ice cold ethanol was added to
the filtrate and a clumpy white precipitate is seen
to form that is DNA.
On the other hand, saliva was collected in
a test tube from one of the group members for
the extraction of human DNA. Then, a drop of
soap, a pinch of meat tenderizer and a pinch of
salt were simultaneously added to the solution
and tapped of one minute each. After which, ice
cold ethanol was added and mixed gently to form
the white precipitate that is the DNA.

References
Alberts, B., A. Johnson, J. Lewis, M. Raff, K.
Roberts and P.
Walter.
2008.
Molecular Biology of the Cell, 5th ed.
Garland Science, Taylor and Francis
Group