Description
All living things have DNA, and all genetic tests start with a DNA sample. How do you get this DNA sample? By isolating or extracting it! You need to break down various cellular barriers to get to the DNA but once you do, you can harvest the DNA. In a molecular biology DNA extraction lab, this is the beginning of a cascade of steps to study a particular gene of interest.
In this lab students will explore DNA extraction and use The Winston Fluorescence Reader to see how changes in extraction reagent ratios affect how much DNA is extracted. Fluorescence is a common visualization tool in the molecular biology lab, because samples are often colorless. By using fluorescence you can compare your test to test results.
Add this to a Macromolecule lab that allows students to test 5 different macromolecules, including DNA!
The entire lab can be completed in the span of a single classroom period.
Ideal for middle, high school and university students.
Each MiniLab contains enough materials for 10 workstations, 2 – 3 students per workstation.
Materials Included in each MiniLab:
- Wheat germ
- Plastic transfer pipettes
- GelGreen nucleic acid stain
- 0.1 M Na-Bicarb buffer (pH 9.6)
- 1% Tween-20 detergent
- 5 mL tubes and caps for aliquoting reagents
Equipment required but not included:
