Genetics - DNA - Extracting DNA from Kiwifruit.

Aim: 
Extract DNA from kiwi fruit.

Equipment:
ziplock bags • jar or beaker that fits strainer or funnel strainer or funnel • cheesecloth (cut to cover the funnel)  • extraction solution • kiwifruit • cold 95% ethanol or isopropanol • small test tubes (1 per student)

Method:
1. Peel the kiwifruit and chop it up.

2. Put the chunks in a jar and mash it up.

3. Mix together the washing liquid, the salt, and the tap water. Stir it together without creating any bubbles. This is also known as an extraction buffer.

4. Add the extraction buffer to the mashed up kiwifruit and mash it some more. The more you mash the more DNA you will get out at the end.

5. Put the kiwifruit and buffer mixture into an incubator/ ziplock bag at 60 degrees Celsius for 15 mins.

6. Filter the kiwi through a fine sieve or coffee paper into a test tube.

7. Pour cold ethanol down the side of the test tube slowly.

Result:
Where the layer of the ice cold alcohol meets the kiwi mixture underneath, you will see a white jelly-like substance. You can hook the DNA out with a hook made from a paperclip or something similar.

Discussion: Deoxyribonucleic acid, a self-replicating material which is present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information. This shape is commonly described as a double helix. The DNA coils around a highly alkaline protein known as histone. Cells are usually made up of 46 Chromosomes Unless it is the sperm or egg cell. Sperm and egg cells have half the amount (23).  These chromosomes come in pairs, females have two X chromosomes whereas males have an X and Y chromosome. These bases are joined together to form base pairs. In a DNA, Normally adenine (A) pairs with thymine (T), and cytosine (C) pairs with guanine (G) These base pairs connect together to form two complementary strands or helix, We know this as Deoxyribonucleic (DNA). 

Evaluation:
My experiment went quite well. I ran into no problems and got the results that I required. If you were to do this experiment I suggest you make more than what I have because I did not end with the amount of DNA that I would have liked too.