BIOLOGY

INVESTIGATORY
PROJECT
DNA Extraction from Banana

PODAR INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Dnyaneshwari Nemade
Class- XII-Science
 Certificate of Authenticity
This is to certify that Dnyaneshwari Nemade, a
student of class XII has successfully completed the
research project in biology on the topic “DNA
Extraction from Banana” under the guidance of
Mrs. Rekha Mule(biology teacher) during the
year 2019-2020 in particular curriculum of Central
Board of Secondary Education(CBSE).

This project is absolutely genuine and does not

indulge in plagiarism of any kind. The references
taken in making this project have been declared at
the end of this report.

Signature (Subject Teacher) Signature (Examiner)

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 Acknowledgement
I have taken efforts in this project. However, it
would not have been possible without the kind
support and help of many individuals.
This project wouldn’t have been feasible without
the proper and rigorous guidance of my biology
teacher - Mrs. Rekha Mule who guided me
throughout this project. I extend my hearty thanks
to Mrs. Rekha Mule, for her encouragement and
for all the guidance.
Rigorous hard work has been put in this project to
ensure that it proves to be the best. I hope that this
project will prove to be a breeding ground for the
next generation of students and will guide them in
every possible way.
I take this opportunity to express my deep sense of
gratitude for my parents for invaluable guidance
and constant encouragement.

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Content
 Introduction 5

 DNA Extraction 6

 Experiment: 7
 Aim
 Requirement
 Procedure
 Result

 Bibliography 10

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Introduction
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a molecule composed of two
chains that coil around each other to form a double
helix carrying genetic instructions for the development, functioning,
growth and reproduction of all known organisms and many viruses.
DNA and ribonucleic acid (RNA) are nucleic acids;
alongside proteins, lipids and complex carbohydrates
(polysaccharides), nucleic acids are one of the four major types
of macromolecules that are essential for all known forms of life.
The two DNA strands are also known as polynucleotide’s as they are
composed of simpler monomeric units called nucleotides. Each
nucleotide is composed of one of four nitrogen-
containing nucleobases (cytosine [C], guanine [G], adenine [A]
or thymine [T]), a sugar called deoxyribose, and a phosphate group.
The nucleotides are joined to one another in a chain by covalent
bonds between the sugar of one nucleotide and the phosphate of the
next, resulting in an alternating sugar-phosphate backbone. The
nitrogenous bases of the two separate polynucleotide strands are
bound together, according to base pairing rules (A with T and C with
G), with hydrogen bonds to make double-stranded DNA. The
complementary nitrogenous bases are divided into two
groups, pyrimidines and purines. In DNA, the pyrimidines are
thymine and cytosine; the purines are adenine and guanine.
Both strands of double-stranded DNA store the same biological
information. This information is replicated as and when the two
strands separate. A large part of DNA (more than 98% for humans)
is non-coding, meaning that these sections do not serve as patterns
for protein sequences. The two strands of DNA run in opposite
directions to each other and are thus antiparallel. Attached to each
sugar is one of four types of nucleobases (informally, bases). It is
the sequence of these four nucleobases along the backbone that
encodes genetic information. RNA strands are created using DNA
strands as a template in a process called transcription. Under
the genetic code, these RNA strands specify the sequence of amino
acids within proteins in a process called translation.

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DNA Extraction
DNA isolation is a process of purification of DNA from sample using a
combination of physical and chemical methods. DNA was first isolated by
the Swiss physician, Friedrich Miescher, in 1869 while working in the
laboratory of the biochemist Felix Hoppe-Seyler. Currently it is a routine
procedure in molecular biology or forensic analyses. Some of the most
common DNA extraction methods include organic extraction, Chelex
extraction, and solid phase extraction. These methods consistently yield
isolated DNA, but they differ in both the quality and the quantity of DNA
yielded. When selecting a DNA extraction method, there are multiple
factors to consider, including cost, time, safety, and risk of contamination.

There are three basic and two optional steps in a DNA extraction:

 Cells which are to be studied need to be collected.

 Breaking the cell membranes open to expose the DNA along with the
cytoplasm within (cell lysis).
o Lipids from the cell membrane and the nucleus are broken down
with detergents and surfactants.
o Breaking proteins by adding a protease (optional).
o Breaking RNA by adding an RNase (optional).
 The solution is treated with concentrated salt solution (saline) to make
debris such as broken proteins, lipids and RNA to clump together.
 Centrifugation of the solution, which separates the clumped cellular
debris from the DNA.
 DNA purification from detergents, proteins, salts and reagents used
during cell lysis step.

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Experiment
Aim: Extraction of DNA from banana.
Requirements:
 1/2 peeled ripe banana
 1/2 cup hot water
 1 tsp salt
 1/2 tsp liquid dish-washing soap
 Resealable zip-top bag (quart size)
 Very cold rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) placed in freezer
Coffee filter
 Narrow glass
 Wooden stirrer

Theory:
Just like us, banana plants have genes and DNA in their cells, and just like
us, their DNA determines their traits. Using only our eyes, we couldn't see
a single cell or the DNA inside of it. If we remove DNA from millions of
cells, however, we will be able to view it without a microscope.

The stringy substance that you see is DNA! It has been removed from the
millions and millions of cells that make up the banana. All living things
have DNA. The more similar and closely related two living things are, the
more similar their DNA is. Every human shares 99 percent of his or her
DNA with every other person. Furthermore, human DNA is very similar to
that of other species. We share most of our genes, which make up DNA,
with fellow primates such as chimpanzees and with other mammals such
as mice. We even have genes in common with the banana plant!

Procedure:
1. Mush the banana in the resealable bag for about a minute until all
the lumps are gone and it almost looks like pudding.
2. Fill a cup with the hot water and salt.

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 3. Pour the saltwater mix into the bag. Close the bag and very gently
squeeze and move the saltwater and banana mush together. Do this
for 30 to 45 seconds.
4. Add the dishwashing soap into the bag and gently mix the contents.
Try to avoid making too much foam.
5. Place the coffee filter in a clear glass cup, securing the top of the
filter around the lip of the cup.
6. Pour the mix into the filter and let it sit until all of the liquid drips
down into the cup.
7. Remove and discard the used coffee filter.
8. Tilt the glass and slowly add cold alcohol down the side of the cup.
You want the alcohol to form a layer on top of the banana mix,
staying separated, so be careful not to pour it too fast. Make a layer
of alcohol that is 2.5-5cm (1-2in) thick.
9. After the alcohol layer is set up, wait for eight minutes. You may see
some bubbles and cloudy material moving around in the alcohol.
This is the DNA pieces clumping together.
10. Use the wooden stirrer to start poking the cloudy stuff in the
alcohol layer. Spin the stirrer it in place to start gathering the cloudy
stuff. When you are done, take a closer look at the stuff on the
stirrer. You are looking at DNA!

Observation:
As soon as the banana solution was poured into the alcohol, after 4-5
hours, there was a separation between the banana solution and DNA
(thread-like structure). After some time, the banana solution settled down
and at the top portion we observed the thread-like structure collectively
called ‘DNA’. As the result of the procedure, three layers were formed in
the test tube (banana, alcohol, and banana DNA ). The Banana DNA that
was formed was a thick white cloudy substance.

Conclusion:
The DNA material became visible almost immediately when we poured
the banana solution into the alcohol. The individual strands of DNA are
too small to be seen by the naked eye, however, when enough of the
strands grouped together, it is visible. The DNA does seem to be very
fragile as it deteriorated quickly.

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Precautions:
 Disturbing the solution DNA precipitate will give poor result.
 Avoid contamination of DNA.
 Use of proper instruments/materials for extraction.
 Use the given filter for filtration of solution not the other filter.

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Bibliography
 DNA :
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA

 DNA Extraction :
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA_extraction

 Extraction from banana :

1. Materials:
 https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/banana-
dna
2. Procedure:
 http://www.odec.ca/projects/2003/britt3m/public
_html/experiment.htm
3. Theory:
 https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/find-
the-dna-in-a-banana-bring-science-home/
4. Conclusion/Observation:
 https://prezi.com/0ht8kupyhe3p/banana-dna-
extraction/

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