Lesson 6: Strawberry DNA
Lesson 6: Strawberry DNA
Category: Science
Each individual cell in an organism has a copy of the DNA pattern used to reproduce that cell. Usually, the DNA is combined within the cell, so you can’t see it. But when you create a mixture of dish soap and salt and mix it with the strawberry pulp, it helps break down the strawberry cells into individual parts.
Once the alcohol is added to the pulp, it encourages the DNA strands to rise to the top and bind together, where you can see them together in one long, clear strand. It’s fascinating to see the DNA strands up close and personal! It doesn’t take long to extract DNA from strawberries.
Our cells have two copies of their DNA while strawberry cells have eight! This makes it easier for us to extract enough DNA to be able to see it with the naked eye.
Every living thing has DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid and it is the blueprint for what makes you a human, a cat, a tree or a type of flower etc. DNA is a molecule that is like a little recipe for life and holds all the information your body needs to function. Pretty crazy! Plus, it’s just a teeny, tiny percent of our DNA that actually makes us all unique from one another. You may also be surprised to know that some of the DNA in strawberries is also present in humans.
Materials:
Coffee filters
Pipette
Test tube
Strawberries
Dish Soap
Salt
Plastic Zipper Baggies
Rubbing Alcohol
Directions:
Chill the alcohol in the freezer.
Remove the green stems from the strawberries and add the strawberries to a zip lock bag. Make sure to seal the bag well and then squish the strawberries into a pulp.
Add 1 tablespoon of dish soap, a teaspoon of salt, and 1/3 of a cup of water to the bag. Shake the bag to mix well.
Line the test tube with the coffee filter.
Pour the strawberry liquid onto the coffee filter and then wait for the liquid to filter into the test tube.
Now add a one-inch layer of chilled alcohol to the test tube.
Watch as a clear thick material rises to the top of the alcohol. This is the strawberry DNA!
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*Adapted from Little Bins for Little Hands
