Extracting DNA From A Banana

JHASMIN NICOLE B.
MANCERA
12 STEM A3
Extracting DNA from a Banana
Introduction
All living things, bananas and people included, pass on information from one
generation to the next using the same basic material, DNA (Links to an
external site.). Within every living organism, most cells contain a complete set
of DNA instructions. The information in DNA tells our bodies how to develop,
grow, and work. It also controls many of the features that make an organism
unique.
DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid is found in all living things. Its natural shape is
called a double helix and when seen under extremely high-powered
microscopes, it looks kind of like a ladder twisted into a spiral shape.
All of these instructions fit within tiny packages within our tiny cells, so that is
all way too tiny for anyone to ever really see or touch, right? Well, not entirely.
Because DNA is in every cell, there is a lot of it in an organism. If you took the
entire DNA out of some middle-sized organism (or part of an organism, like a
piece of fruit), you could see and even touch DNA. We will use common
household products to break apart the cells in a banana and extract out the
DNA. While you may know of the double-helix structure of DNA, you can't see
that structure with the naked eye. So when seeing it without a
high-powered microscope...what does DNA look like?
Objectives:
1. Students will follow directions and understand that basic chemicals

(salts and detergents) can be used to break down cells and cell parts and
to make molecules stick to other molecules.
2. Students will gain a basic understanding of the structure of DNA.
3. Students will understand cells and that they broke apart the cell
membrane and the nuclear membrane to reach the DNA.
Materials
 1/2 peeled ripe banana (you can also use strawberries or other fruit)
 1/2 cup hot water
 1 tsp salt
 1/2 tsp liquid dishwashing soap
 resealable zip-top bag (quart size)(Pastic labo will do)
 very cold rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) placed in freezer ahead of

time
 coffee filter (you can use unused handkerchief)
 plastic cups
 wooden stirrer
JHASMIN NICOLE B. MANCERA
12 STEM A3
Extracting DNA in 10 Easy Steps
1. Mush the banana in the resealable bag for about a minute until all the
lumps are gone and it almost looks like pudding.
2. Fill a cup with the hot water and salt.
3. Pour the saltwater mix into the bag. Close the bag and very gently
squeeze and move the saltwater and banana mush together. Do this for 30
to 45 seconds.
4. Add the dishwashing soap into the bag and gently mix the contents. Try
to avoid making too much foam.
5. Place the coffee filter in a clear glass cup, securing the top of the filter
around the lip of the cup.
6. Pour the mix into the filter and let it sit until all of the liquid drips down
into the cup.
7. Remove and discard the used coffee filter.
8. Tilt the glass and slowly add cold alcohol down the side of the cup. You
want the alcohol to form a layer on top of the banana mix, staying
separated, so be careful not to pour it too fast. Make a layer of alcohol that
is 2.5-5cm (1-2in) thick.
9. After the alcohol layer is set up, wait for eight minutes. You may see
some bubbles and cloudy material moving around in the alcohol. This is the
DNA pieces clumping together.
10. Use the wooden stirrer to start poking the cloudy stuff in the alcohol
layer. Spin the stirrer it in place to start gathering the cloudy stuff. When
you are done, take a closer look at the stuff on the stirrer. You are looking
at DNA!
Guide Questions:
1. You may understand that mashing a banana can break cells apart and
help break apart cell walls, but why was all that other stuff added? (5
points)
Answer:
Mashing the banana exposes more surface area for extracting the DNA. The
liquid soap aid in the breakdown of cell membranes, allowing the DNA to be
released. The filtering phase, which involves passing the mixture through a
strainer, enables the capture of DNA and other biological components. The
condensation phase, which involves pouring cold alcohol down the edge, allows
DNA to separate from other cellular substances. Finally, DNA is extracted from
the solution using a wood stick.
12 STEM A3
1. What are the roles of the following in extracting the DNA?
Saltwater: (5 points)
Answer:
Before adding anything else, the bananas were mashed with saltwater. However,
this was a one-time procedure to prepare for the addition of the dish soap. Once
the dish soap has helped to release the DNA, this salt will assist the strands of
DNA to stay together in large enough clumps for us to observe.
Dish soap: (5 points)

Answer:
Dish soap can help in the separation of the membranes that hold cells together.
These membranes are composed of a type of molecule known as lipids. When
you think about lipids, you probably think of fats and oils. Dish soap cuts
through grease because it separates the greasy molecules. So, when dish soap is
added, the cell membrane and nucleus are torn apart, allowing the DNA to be
released.
Alcohol: (5 points)
Answer:
The DNA clumps are soluble in various liquids, but not in alcohol. As a result,
injecting alcohol helps in the formation of strands of DNA.
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JHASMIN NICOLE B.

Extracting DNA from a Banana

1. Students will follow directions and understand that basic chemicals

 very cold rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) placed in freezer ahead of

Extracting DNA in 10 Easy Steps

Dish soap: (5 points)

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