Wednesday, January 7, 2009

DNA EXTRACTION

Homework
What is the purpose of using NaCl, detergent and alcohol to extract DNA from human cheek cells?

2 comments:

Sara said...

The purpose of using detergent is so that the membranes around the cheek cells and the nucleaus break down. When these cells break open, the DNA is released and interqines with DNA released from other cells.
Eventually, enough DNA intertwines so students could see and notice the whitish strands. Detergents break open cells by destroying the fatty membrane that clean away proteins that may be associated with the DNA due to what students have in ther mouths.

NaCl, also known as sodium chloride, greatly aids in precipitating DNA. It helps it appear whittish.

The alcohol also causes gases to dissolve in the water to be released, which may be observed as small bubbles.

Anonymous said...

Hey Mrs.Marshall, what do we put on the poster for the case??