Human DNA Extraction Lab
In this lab we asked the question: "How can DNA be separated from cheek cells in order to study it?" In this lab we found that you can separate DNA from your cheek in order to study it. I found that in this experiment you can see DNA when you follow three basic steps: homogenization, lysis, and preciptiation. You can see the DNA when you add detergent, salt, enzyme and cold alcohol to create a gatorade solution. I observed that my DNA floated to the top once I had added the cold alcohol. I looked as though bubbles carried it to the top. This observation helped me strengthen my thinking and thoughts that came out of notes and vodcasts I watched. This data supports my claim because DNA extraction is the process of homogenizing (to combine two unlike things), lysis (a process of disintegration or dissolution (as of cells)), prectiptaion. When the protease (the enzyme) was added to the gatorade solution outcame a faint reaction and the DNA was in the making, but when the layer of alcohol was added the DNA was made visible in the test tube.
While my hypothesis was supported by my data, there could have been errors due to me not scraping my cheek enough when I was swishing plain gatorate in my mouth. I know this was an issue because group member who had kept the gatorade in there mouth longer and scraped there cheeks more effectively had more DNA. In order to eliminate this error next time I would scrap my cheeks more to break off the cells. A second error that could have affected my experiment was adding too much gatorade to the solution and not enough alcohol. Adding to much gatorade also makes the DNA less concentrated and could have affected the over all process. To prevent this from happening again I would use less gatorade to balance out the amount of alcohol that was added. Due to these errors, in future experiments I would follow my recommendations in order to avoid anything affect your experiment.
This lab was done to demonstrate that DNA could be separated from cheek cells in order to study and observe it. From this lab I learned and what an enzyme help create a reaction an eventually some DNA, this helps me understand how a enzyme works on a larger scale. Based on my experience from this lab, I could apply this knowledge to another situation if I were to maybe look at DNA on more of a molecular level, and needed to re-create someones DNA in that kind of form.
While my hypothesis was supported by my data, there could have been errors due to me not scraping my cheek enough when I was swishing plain gatorate in my mouth. I know this was an issue because group member who had kept the gatorade in there mouth longer and scraped there cheeks more effectively had more DNA. In order to eliminate this error next time I would scrap my cheeks more to break off the cells. A second error that could have affected my experiment was adding too much gatorade to the solution and not enough alcohol. Adding to much gatorade also makes the DNA less concentrated and could have affected the over all process. To prevent this from happening again I would use less gatorade to balance out the amount of alcohol that was added. Due to these errors, in future experiments I would follow my recommendations in order to avoid anything affect your experiment.
This lab was done to demonstrate that DNA could be separated from cheek cells in order to study and observe it. From this lab I learned and what an enzyme help create a reaction an eventually some DNA, this helps me understand how a enzyme works on a larger scale. Based on my experience from this lab, I could apply this knowledge to another situation if I were to maybe look at DNA on more of a molecular level, and needed to re-create someones DNA in that kind of form.
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