Proceeding:

1. Prepare all the materials needed for the DNA Extraction.

2. Measure 1 tbsp. (15ml) of 70% isopropyl alcohol and pour it into the glass vial. Place the glass vial
with the alcohol into a cup containing ice cubes. Set aside.
3. Peel the banana sample and put it in a plastic container, add it with cup of distilled and then mash the
Banana using a stainless fork until it become slurry. Set aside the banana mixture.
4. In another plastic cup combine tsp salt, 1 tsp dishwashing liquid and 2 tsp water. Stir the mixture
until the salt dissolves, be careful to not let the dishwashing liquid foam. This mixture will be called the
DNA extraction solution.
5. Add 2 tbsp. of the Banana slurry to the DNA extraction solution.
6. In another plastic cup, place the coffee filter and wet it with distilled water, then pour out the water
from the cup. Next, make a well with the coffee filter and position it in such a way that the filter does not
touch the bottom of the cup.
7. Pour out the Banana mixture on the cup with the coffee filter slowly and then let it filter.
8. Collect the filtrate and then add it into the vial with alcohol very slowly. Dip the coffee stirrer in the
vial and slowly rotate it to spool the DNA. You will see the clear/white DNA precipitate into the alcohol
layer.
Guide Questions:
1. What is the role of the salt?
- Salt plays a role in neutralizing the charge of the DNAs sugar phosphate backbone, decreasing its
solubility in water. Salt compound, sodium chloride (NaCl) helps in solidifying and making the DNA
visible.
2. What is the role of the dishwashing liquid?
- The dishwashing liquid contains sodium lauryl sulfate, which can break up fats and proteins. During the
DNA extraction, the soap pulls apart the fats (lipids) and proteins that make up the membranes
surrounding the cell and nucleus. Once these membranes are broken apart, the DNA is released from the
cell.

3. Why do you use a filter?

-Filtering the solution helps get rid of the fruit pulp leaving a pure solution of the DNA.
4. What does alcohol do?
-The alcohol separates the DNA from the other cell components, which are left behind in the water
solution, the alcohol and salt work to prevent the DNA from dissolving into the water, instead causing it
to precipitate out so it can be separated and extracted.
5. Can you use room temperature or warm alcohol? Why or why not?
- No. We cant use room temperature or warm alcohol in the DNA extraction process; l ow temperatures
protect the DNA by slowing down the activity of enzymes that could break it apart. A cells DNA is
usually protected from such enzymes (DNases) by the nuclear membrane which is disrupted by adding
detergent. DNases in the cytoplasm would destroy the DNA of viruses entering the cell. Cold alcohol
helps the DNA to precipitate more quickly. The colder the alcohol is the greater the amount of DNA that
is precipitated.