DNA is a molecule that all living things have. It carries information for cells to perform the tasks that they are created for. DNA also carries genetic information which controls all a person's inherited traits such as height, eye color and hair color. 99.9% of every single person's DNA is exactly the same; the .1% difference is what makes every person different. The purpose of this lab is to precipitate our own DNA. Commercial uses of this type of lab could be to Study, compare, map or sequence DNA. It could even potentially be used in cloning.
The procedure of this lab is very simple. First we loosened cells on our cheeks by chewing them and then extracted them by rinsing our mouths with saline solution. Then we break open the cell walls with the lysis buffer which dissolves oil-based substances. Next, the protease is added, protease breaks down proteins. We destroy the proteins to destroy the enzyme, DNase, which digests DNA. Now the DNA can be precipitated without being destroyed by the DNase. DNA has a negative charge which would allow it to be soluble in water, so we add salt and the NA+ ions bond with the DNA neutralizing it. It will also allow the DNA to come together instead of repelling due to charges. Finally, cold ethanol is added which makes it even harder for the DNA to dissolve in the solution and the DNA will precipitate enough to be seen. Then we extracted the DNA from the solution and placed it in a necklace.
Our lab worked as it was supposed to and all of us had more than enough DNA in our test tubes. Due to our success we can assume that we did everything right, however, some possible things that could have gone wrong are: We could have not added enough protease and the DNase would have consumed all the DNA or we could have not harvested enough cells.
