Gerson Grijalva

6/5/17
Biology

DNA EXTRACTION LAB

PROBLEM STATEMENT - The purpose of this lab was to see if we can take DNA from strawberries.

HYPOTHESIS - If we poured in the ethanol then we will get a sample of DNA extract from the
strawberry because is not soluble in ethanol.

PRE-LAB QUESTIONS

1) What do you think the DNA will look like?

I think that the DNA will be very small and it’s going to be something that you
cannot see.

2) Where is DNA found?

DNA can be found on the nucleus.

OBSERVATIONS

DATA TABLE:
Lab Step Observations

Pouring in the Ethanol to the strawberry I was seeing the strawberry extraction being
extraction separated while pouring in the ethanol. I was
confused as to why it was doing this.

Dip the loop or glass rod into the tube where I was surprised to see the amount of DNA we
the strawberry extract and ethanol layers were able to get . I was amazed to see the
strawberry DNA up close. It did not look
pretty but I was amazed to see it.

Pour the strawberry slurry into the filtration I was questioning as to why we were doing
apparatus and let it drip directly into your this part. It think it was to get good DNA
test tube. results.

8) CONCLUSION AND ANALYSIS

I was surprised to see the strawberry DNA and I was wondering if that our DNA looks like the
strawberry DNA

Questions to answer:

1. Explain the purpose of the following steps in the lab:

A. Filter strawberry slurry through cheesecloth
That way the cell components can be separated when we filter the strawberry.
B. Mush strawberry with salty/soapy solution
It can dissolve the cell membrane and break the protein of the strawberry.
C. Initial smashing and grinding of strawberry
So we can get better result of the DNA also break the cells to be open
D. Addition of ethanol to filtered extract
Once put the ethanol we can see the strawberry DNA more clearly.

2. What did the DNA look like? Relate what you know about the chemical structure of DNA to
what you observed today.

When I saw the DNA it looked like mucus coming out from the nose but it was from a
strawberry.

3. Explain what happened in the final step when you added ethanol to your strawberry extract.
(Hint: DNA is soluble in water, but not in ethanol)

When we added the ethanol , the ethanol and the strawberry extract was separated. This was
because DNA is not soluble in Ethanol , it's only soluble in water. By pouring in the ethanol we
were able to see the DNA more clearly

4. A person cannot see a single cotton thread 100 feet away, but if you wound thousands of
threads together into a rope, it would be visible much further away. Is this statement
analogous to our DNA extraction? Explain.

We cannot see the DNA from far away but if you look at up close you can see the DNA very
clearly.

5. Why is it important for scientists to be able to remove DNA from an organism? List two
reasons.

It is important because they want to more about the genetic disease. They also want to test them
on illness that can't be cured yet.

CONCLUSION

This last Lab Experience was fun. It was very interesting to see the DNA from a
strawberry. Amazed to see the DNA up close. I have proved my hypothesis because in the lab,
when we poured in the ethanol, while mixing the slurry strawberry in the test tube I was able to
see the slurry strawberry being separated from the ethanol. When we were done mixing it We
pulled up the stick and there it was , the DNA from a strawberry which I was amazed and
surprised to see. If I were to do the lab again something that I would change would be to add
water instead of ethanol. DNA is not soluble in ethanol so If I were to replace ethanol with water
I wonder if I am going to get the same result form the last lab. I think that the DNA will be much
harder to see.