By Julie Bierach, KWMU
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kwmu/local-kwmu-699422.mp3
St. Louis – National DNA Day was established to commemorate the discovery of the structure of DNA in 1953.
Here in St. Louis, scientists from Washington University are leading experiments in area schools.
KWMU's science reporter Julie Bierach hung out with a group of middle school kids as they took on the role of genetics researchers.
PROTOCOL FOR DNA EXTRACTION EXPERIMENT
OBJECTIVE:
TO USE SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY TO DETERMINE IF A STRAWBERRY HAS DNA.
MATERIALS (per pair)
1 Chuck Diaper
2 50ml Beaker
1 Strawberry
1 Dropping Pipette
1 bottle Detergent
1 tsp Salt
100 ml Water
1 Coffee Filter
40 ml Isopropyl Alcohol
1 Wooden Stick
1 roll Paper Towels
PROCEDURE
1. Place diaper on your workstation to absorb any spills.
2. Place strawberry into beaker and smash.
3. Using the dropping pipette, add 1/2 dropper of detergent to the beaker of smashed strawberry.
4. Using the wooden spoon, gently stir the two substances as to mix them.
4. Add salt to the beaker and stir gently.
5. Add water and stir again.
6. Place the coffee filter onto the top of the second beaker. Fold the filter over the sides of the beaker. Nestle the beaker with the filter paper in your hand. Slowly and carefully pour the beaker containing the strawberry mixture into empty beaker. Allow the strawberry mixture to slowly seep through the coffee filter. Take care not to allow the large pieces of strawberry to fall into the beaker.
7. Next, add the alcohol and observe.