DNA Extraction Lab

In this lab we asked the question, can DNA be separated from cheek cells and if so at what point will you be able to see the DNA. We predicted that it would be possible and the DNA would be visible after the stage where alcohol was added. We found that it is possible to separate the DNA in a process of homogenization, lysis, and precipitation. After the alcohol was added to the solution, the DNA was clearly visible, floating above the solution in the alcohol. This would make sense, because the alcohol is a polar substance and DNA is nonpolar, so the polar substance should draw out the DNA, which is exactly what happened in our experiment.

While our hypothesis was supported by our data, there could have been errors due to mistakes in the procedure and inaccurate measurements. When making our procedure, we placed one of the steps incorrectly, so after pouring in the alcohol and extracting the DNA we had to shake the vile ruining our extracted  DNA. Also, when measuring things like soap and enzyme into the solution, everyone had a different idea of how much to add, resulting in members of the group having different solutions. This could have caused people to have different results, skewing the data. In the future these errors could be avoided if the procedure is given to students and one student does all the measuring to keep it consistent. 

This lab was done to demonstrate how molecules interact with one another and how DNA can be extracted from organisms. This helps me understand the concepts of polar and non-polar and to understand DNA and how it works and interacts with other substances. Based on my experience with this lab, I can apply my knowledge of DNA to other labs and I now know how to create a proper lab procedure from several different parts.