BIOTECHNOLOGY

Laboratory Activity

DNA Extraction

Group No.: ______

Name: _______________________________________________________________________________

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a long-chained molecule that serves as the blueprint of life. It
contains instructions in making proteins, as well as the information about the organism. In the aspect of
inheritance, DNA is important in passing the information from the parent to the offspring. DNA
nowadays is vital in improving the lives, as it serves as the key in finding cures in certain illnesses. This
laboratory activity is designed to obtain DNA samples from human cheek cells.

Objectives:

 Extract DNA from human cheek cells

 Describe the extracted DNA
 Explain how the chemicals are important in extracting the DNA

Materials:

Water 1 pc. 10-mlTest tube

Dishwashing liquid 500-mL Beaker

Table salt Test Tube rack

70% v/v Isopropyl alcohol Bamboo stick

Food coloring 1 100-ml Graduated Cylinder

3 pcs Plastic spoon Petri dish

2 pcs. Plastic cups

Procedure:

1. Mix 500 ml drinking water with 1 tbsp. of salt in a beaker. Stir until all the salt is dissolved.
2. Transfer 3 tbsps. of salt water into a clear cup.
3. Gargle the saltwater for 1 minute.
4. Spit the gargled saltwater back into the cup. Now your cheek cells are suspended in the salt
water.
5. In a petri dish, place a drop of dishwashing liquid.
6. Gently wet one side of the bamboo stick with dishwashing liquid and place the stick into the
gargled saltwater. Gently stir to avoid the formation of bubbles as much as possible. Soap breaks
the cell membranes, releasing the DNA.
7. Measure 100 ml of isopropyl alcohol using the graduated cylinder. Pour it into a separate cup,
then place 3 drops of food coloring and stir.
8. Tilt the cup with gargled saltwater and gently pour the colored alcohol so that it forms a layer on
top (about 2 cm thick).
9. Wait for 2 minutes and 30 seconds. You should see white clumps and strings forming.
10. Using the bamboo stick, try to transfer the clumps of DNA into a test tube with water.
Questions:

1. How can you describe the extracted DNA molecules? (3 pts)

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2. What is the reason why did you use dishwashing soap in extracting DNA? (3 pts)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3. What is the purpose of isopropyl alcohol? (3 pts)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
4. What is the reason why do you have to create a layer of gargled saltwater and colored alcohol
instead of mixing them directly? (3 pts)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
5. Why is it that you have to avoid eating foods prior to gargling? (3 pts)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________