Extracting DNA from a banana

Aim: I want to investigate how to extract DNA from a banana.

Materials:
* 50 g of banana
* food blender
* a piece of clean muslin 20×20 cm
* distilled water
* 250 mL beaker
* dishwashing detergent
* measuring cylinder
* cold 95% ethanol ( kept in fridge)
* universal indicator solution.
* boiling tube with rubber bung
* hooked wire on a handle
* petri dish.

* cauliflower or strawberry can be used instead of banana.

Method:

(1) Place 50 g of banana and 100mL of distilled water in the food blender and switch on high for 20 seconds.

( breaks up food sample)

(2)
Pour the blended banana mixture through a piece of clean muslin into a beaker.

( they will remove annul lumps)

(3)
Measure out 15 mL of the blended banana mix and pour into a boiling tube. Add 6 drops of dish washing detergent, put a rubber, bung into the tube and shake for at least 5 minutes( mixture should become thick and gooey)

( shaking with detergent breaks open cells and release their contents)

(4)
Carefully add 15mL of cold alcohol to the tube of banana mixture. The alcohol forms a layer of top of the blended banana.

( this separates out the DNA)

(5)
To collect the DNA, dip a hooked wire into the mixture where the layers meet, then turn the wire to twist DNA onto the wire hook. Carefully remove the hook with the DNA and place on to a clean petri dish. Watch carefully as you lift the DNA from the mixture.

(6)
Add some universal indecator solution to your DNA.

Results

(1)
What does the DNA look like?

I thought it we wouldn't have a lot but the DNA looked white.

(2)
What is the pH of DNA (answer)
Is DNA acidic, basic or neutral?

Acidic

(3)
What is the full name of DNA?

Deoxyribonucleic Acid

One of the processes that scientist can carry out using DNA extracted from cells is DNA Fingerprint. What is DNA Fingerprint, and what is it used for?

Genetic fingerprint.

It is a technique that detects a lot mini satellites in genome.