DNA EXTRACTION OF

CHEEK CELLS AND

STRAWBERRIES.
Albion AP Biology
Jessica Schleede, Riley Seielstad
Introduction: This experiment is the extraction of DNA from an animal and a plant specimen.
The plant DNA will be extracted from a strawberry and the animal DNA will be from human
cheek cells. The purpose of this experiment is to determine whether an animal or plant contains
more DNA. DNA is double stranded genetic information found in the nucleus of the cell. DNA is
a helical shape that is composed nucleotides, each nucleotide is made of the sugar deoxyribose, a
phosphate group, and nitrogenous bases adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine(C), guanine (G).
When determining whether a strawberry or human cheek cells contain more DNA the occurrence
of polyploidy could play a role in the strawberry containing more DNA because human
chromosomes cannot undergo polyploidy. Polyploidy is when an organism has more than two
paired sets of homologous chromosomes. Most eukaryotic species including humans contain
only two sets of chromosomes-diploid, usually inherited from each of the two parents DNA.

Hypothesis: If DNA is extracted from both a strawberry and from human cheek cells then the
strawberry will contain more DNA because the chance of polyploidy.

Materials: Graduated cylinder, test tube(s) with caps for swirling, electrolyte solution (sports
drink), water, detergent solution, small cups, test tube stand, chilled ethanol, sandwich bag,
strawberry, extraction buffer (meat tenderizer), cheese cloth or coffee filter, stirring rod (glass),
plastic pipette.

Methods: To extract DNA from cheek cells start by measuring out 10ml of electrolyte solution
in a graduated cylinder and pour into one of the small plastic cups. Also prepare 20ml of
detergent solution by mixing detergent and water in a 1:3 ratio, put this solution in the 50ml
graduated cylinder. Then swirl the electrolyte solution in mouth for approx. 30 seconds, this will
remove dead cells from the inside of your mouth, to improve results increase the time and also
chew on the sides of the cheeks to remove more dead cells. Pour 5ml of the detergent solution
into a large labeled test tube. After the 30 seconds spit solution into the plastic cup and pour it
into the test tube with the 5ml of detergent solution. Put a cap on the labeled test tube and gently
swirl back and forth for 2-3 minutes but be careful not to shake to much or the small DNA
fragments will break apart and become harder to see further in the experiment. After shaking the
mixture for 2-3 minutes uncap the test tube and carefully pour the chilled ethanol while tilting
the test tube slightly. Then two distinct layers should form between the ethanol and detergent
with the ethanol layer on the top. Place the tube in the rack and let sit for 1 minute, then use a
glass stirring g rod to combine the detergent and ethanol layer, the DNA will then start to
precipitate out of the soap layer. Then use the stirring rod or a plastic pipette to remove the DNA
fragments and put in a small tube with ethanol to observe the fragments and record observations.
-When extracting DNA from the strawberry start by removing the stem and leaves from one
berry and put this bag in a zipper bag and seal tightly. Mash the strawberry into a pulp for two
minutes. Prepare the extraction buffer consisting of 10ml of dish soap with one scoop of meat
tenderizer and mix that thoroughly in a graduated cylinder. Then add 10ml of the extraction
buffer into the mashed strawberry, and mash again for 1 minute. Place a coffee filter or piece of
cheese over a small plastic cup and pour the contents of the bag into the cup to drain the mixture.
Then pour the filtered mixture into a clean test tube and add ice cold ethanol to the tube slowly
by and while tilting the tube slightly. Gently swirl the tube once or twice while being careful not
to break up the contents too much. Then let the tube sit undisturbed for 1-2 minutes and watch
the solution separate. Remove the DNA fragments that separated and put in smaller tube with
ethanol so you can observe and record observations.

Data: After performing the two extractions our observations show that the plant (strawberry)
contained more DNA than the animal (human) specimen.

-The “clumps” that formed at the bottom

of the test tube is the DNA extracted
from the strawberry. Fig 1.

-The little floating fragments in the test

tube are DNA fragments that were
extracted from the cheek cells. Fig 2.
The data is visual observations made after performing the extractions and the data shows
significantly more DNA from the plant (strawberry) and the DNA extracted from the animal
(human cheek cells) was much less, only producing a few small fragments, compared to much
larger fragments and floating pieces found in the strawberry.

Discussion: During this experiment DNA from a plant and animal were extracted and the
amount of DNA found was compared. The results show that the plant (strawberry) contained
much more DNA than the animal (human cheek cells). The results of this data is supported by
the occurrence of polyploidy that the strawberry plant could have gone through. Polyploidy is
when the organism has more than two sets of paired homologous chromosomes. If the strawberry
plant had undergone polyploidy that would support the results of our data because the DNA
extraction from the plant produced much more DNA fragments and pieces than the animal DNA
extraction. During the cheek cell lab we used detergent because it moves the broken up cell
membranes away from the DNA so then the DNA fragments can be seen easier. The detergent
breaks up the two layers of the cell membrane because one end of the detergent molecule is
attracted to the fat layer and the other end is attracted to the water. After finishing the extraction
and while observing the results you can see small white clumps floating in the test tube and those
are the DNA fragments and not the individual strands. While performing the cheek cell lab it’s
important to chew on the sides of your cheek to remove the dead cheek cells and this also breaks
apart the membranes around the cheek cells and make the DNA fragments easier to see later in
the lab. If you were performing this experiment on plant cells you would have to modify the way
the membranes are broken so the DNA can be seen. During the strawberry DNA extraction the
strawberry needed to be mashed in a zipper bag because the membranes that surround the plants’
cells had to be removed so the DNA could become visible later in the lab. The extraction buffer
used in this lab was made with dish soap and meat tenderizer. The meat tenderizer softens and
begins to break apart the membranes on the cells. The dish soap also breaks apart and binds to
the cell membranes. After mashing the strawberry and incorporating the extraction buffer the
mixture needs to be filtered through a coffee filter or cheese cloth to remove the pulp and fruit
pieces from the mixture. After adding the chilled ethanol to the filtrate a distinct layer formed
between the alcohol, filtrate, and the strawberry DNA fragments start to become visible. The
DNA looked like small clumps and pieces but not individual strands of DNA.

Conclusion: After performing these two extractions the data is clear and shows that the plant
(FIG 1) contains more DNA than the animal (FIG 2). This can be explained through polyploidy
that a plant can go through and that an animal cannot. If this lab was repeated it would be
important to make sure that the person swirling the electrolyte solution in their mouth chews the
side of their cheeks to ensure they remove the dead cells and get a more accurate comparison of
the amounts found in each.

Bibliography:

Bagley, M. (2013, June 6). Seeing Your DNA. Retrieved from Live Science: www.livescience.com

Pioneer Hi-Bred International, I. (2003, January 18). DNA Extraction from Strawberries . Educational
Serices Program (ESP).

Sadiva, H. H. (2010). Life the Science of Biology . Sunderland,MA : The Courier Companies, Inc.

Staff, S. (n.d.). Extract YOur Own DNA From Cheek Cells . Retrieved from SEP Lessons :
seplessons.ucsf.edu