Hooked on Science: Extract DNA

Ever wonder what your own DNA looks like without a microscope? You can use a few materials from around the house to safely extract your own DNA.

Materials

* Gatorade

* Dishwashing liquid

* Salt

* Denatured alcohol

* Small cup

* Large transparent glass

Instructions

STEP 1: Swish a lid full of Gatorade around in your mouth for a few minutes.

STEP 2: Spit the Gatorade into a small cup. Add a teaspoon of salt and two teaspoons of dishwashing liquid. Stir gently to avoid making bubbles.

STEP 3: Pour the contents of the small cup into a large transparent glass. Pour enough denatured alcohol gently down the inside of the large transparent glass so that the glass is more than half full.

STEP 4: Place the large transparent glass in a safe place for about 30 minutes. Look for a stringy white substance, which will appear in the denatured alcohol layer.

Explanation

Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, is a molecule present in all living things. It carries genetic information that is inherited, or passed down from parents to offspring. The salt and dishwashing liquid break open the cheek cells, releasing your DNA. The DNA will not dissolve in the alcohol. Therefore, it will appear as a stringy white substance in the denatured alcohol layer.

Jason Lindsey is a science outreach educator with Hooked on Science. Check out his website www.hookedonscience.org for webcasts and experiments that might get you hooked on science.