Can You SeeStrawberries’
DNA?
Let’s Explore! What does DNA look like?
Make a model!Fruit Snacks = Base Pairs
Guanine – CytosineAdenine – Thymine
Rules =• G/C always go together• A/T always go together• Pick any colors to represent them• Stay consistent if you pick yellow/red
for GC, stay with it.
Toothpicks = Rungs on the Ladder. Carefully poke the toothpicks through your base pairs.
Twizzlers = Sugar phosphate backbone. Attach to ladder rungs. http://www.youtube.com/watch
?v=m-dQdq0LO2E
Now! Back to the Question!
Can you see Strawberry DNA?
Let’s try!
First – We’ll watch a video of some cool scientists who will show us a method for extracting DNA from a strawberry.
http://youtu.be/hOpu4iN5Bh4
Do you think you can do it?I know you can!
Here’s what you need!
1 ziploc bag½ cup of waterstrawberries frozen or very ripe fresh2 teaspoons of dish detergent1 teaspoon of salt2 plastic cupscoffee filterice cold rubbing alcohol (90%)stirring apparatus (popsicle stick or Qtip)
Team Up!
Get with a partner. Send a partner to collect your materials.
First
Add 2-3 strawberries to your bag.Zip and mush completely.
Second
Combine:½ cup water2 teaspoons dish soap½ teaspoon saltstir well
Third
Add:Soap solution to strawberry bag.Mix, but not enough to makea lot of bubbles.
Fourth
Filter:Pour the strawberry and soap solution into the cup THROUGH the coffee filter. Be careful!
Fifth
Pour:Pour an equal amount of the very cold alcohol into the cup of strawberry/soap solution. (This is really DNA in solution).
Sixth
Observe!
Strawberry DNA will appear! You did it! You did it!Use the Q-Tip to place it under the microscope if you like. Or you can spread it on the black paper and look at it through the lense. What do you see?
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