Name:

DNA
Extraction: Strawberries
Period:

Date:

Next Generation Targets:

General Targets:
FF Exhibit proper lab procedures.
FF Demonstrate ability to mass an object.
FF Show understanding of dependent and independent variables.
FF Apply knowledge to correctly fill out a data table following
established criteria.
FF Analyze and interpret collected data.
FF Create a graph following established criteria.
FF Exhibit ability to follow directions.
FF Demonstrate knowledge of DNAs role in living and once living
organisms.
FF Extract DNA from Strawberries.
FF Apply knowledge of DNA to everyday situations.

CCR Reading Anchor #3: Analyze how and why individuals,

events, or ideas develop and interact over the course of a text.
FF RST.6-8.3: Follow precisely a multi-step procedure when
carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing
technical tasks.
FF RST.9-10.3: Follow precisely a complex multi-step procedure
when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or
performing technical tasks, attending to special cases or
exceptions defined in the text.
FF RST.11-12.3: Follow precisely a complex multi-step procedure
when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or
performing technical tasks; analyze the specific results based on
explanations in the text.

General Terms
analogy

correlation

extract(ed/ion)

initial

yield

Science Terms
buffer

chromosome

DNA

fossil(s)

gene(s)

hypothesis

nucleic acids

octoploid

protein(s)

genome(s)

trait(s)

Background Information

Fun & Quick Strawberry Facts

Strawberries, bacteria, humans all living things have genes (traits carried in
chromosomes). All genes are made of DNA. Scientists can take a gene from one
living thing and put it into another. For example, they can put human genes into
bacteria to make new medicines

FF Lebanon, Oregons annual strawberry festival is

home to the worlds largest strawberry shortcake.
FF Strawberries are the first fruit to ripen in the spring.
FF One cup of strawberries is only 55 calories.
FF There is a museum in Belgium just for strawberries.
FF Strawberries are a member of the rose family.
FF The flavor of a strawberry is influenced by weather,
the variety and stage of ripeness when harvested.
FF On average, there are 200 seeds in a strawberry.
FF The strawberry is the only fruit with the seeds on
the outside of the fruit.
FF Strawberries have large genomes; they are
octoploid, which means they have eight of each
type of chromosome in each cell. Thus, strawberries
are an exceptional fruit to use in DNA extraction
labs.
FF Like all plants, cell walls and membranes are made
of lipids.
FF The soap helps to dissolve the phospholipid bilayers
of the cell membrane and organelles.
FF The salt is used to break up protein chains that
bind around the nucleic acids.
FF DNA is not soluble in ethanol (a form of alcohol,
poisonous to drink). The colder the ethanol, the
less soluble the DNA will be in it. Thus make sure
to keep the ethanol in the freezer or on ice.

In this lab extracting (removing) DNA from strawberries will be examined.

Strawberry plants have a very unique diversity when it comes to their genetic
makeup. The genetics of most things are relatively complex, but the genetics of
strawberry plants throw an additional twist into the mix. Strawberry plant species
have varying numbers of chromosomes.
Most species are diploid, meaning they have two sets of chromosomes, one set of
chromosomes is normally inherited from each parent. Polyploidy, a condition more
common in plants, occurs when multiple pairs of chromosomes are present in the
genetic component of an organism. Strawberry species and hybrids can be diploid,
tetraploid, pentaploid, hexaploid, heptaploid, octoploid, or decaploid (having 2, 4, 5,
6, 7, 8, or 10 sets of the seven strawberry chromosomes, respectively). In the Pacific
Northwest most strawberries are octoploid (8 sets of chromosomes)
The long, thick fibers of DNA store the information for the functioning of the
chemistry of life. DNA is present in every cell. The DNA found in strawberry cells
can be extracted using common, everyday materials.
An extraction buffer containing salt will break up protein chains binding
around the nucleic acids. The dish soap will dissolve the lipid (fat) part of the
strawberry cell wall and nuclear membrane. This extraction buffer will break down
the lipids and proteins allowing access to the DNA found inside cells.

Name:

DNA
Extraction: Strawberries
Period:

Date:

Essential Question: (the question is written for you)

What is the percent of DNA you are able to extract from a strawberry?

Hypothesis: (answer question #1 & #2)

1. DNA is made of very long strands which are microscopic (tiny) in width. Explain what you think DNA will look like when
you extract (remove) it from a plant cell (your hypothesis)? Then explain how you know this (background, framing your
hypothesis).

2. a) Explain where the DNA you will extract is found within a strawberry cell?
b) What layers must be broken to extract the DNA?
c)Then, in the box, draw a labeled sketch of where the DNA is located in a strawberry plant/cell:
Sketch DNAs location

Dont forget to label.

Follow Part 1 Procedure of the found at

lab station.

Record the Initial Mass of Strawberry(ies) here: ______________

Part 1 Questions: (do after youre done with procedure)

Remember to answer in complete sentences

1. What was the purpose of mashing up the strawberry?

Show instructor Initial

Mass of Strawberries
& get signature for
this sections only.

Put Goggles On
No Goggles = No Grade

2. What does the extraction buffer do? Hint: Extraction buffer contains dish soap.
Think about what soap does to fats & grease.

Page 3

Extracting DNA from Strawberries

Name:
Period:

Date:

Part 1 Questions (cont.): Remember to answer in complete sentences

3. What is the purpose of the filter? What parts of the strawberry do we not
want in our liquid?

4. A person cannot see a single cotton thread four classrooms away. But if you
wound thousands of threads into a rope, it would be visible at the same
distance. How is this statement an analogy of our DNA extraction lab?

5. Is DNA found in all living or once living cells? Full explain your answer.

6. If DNA is found in all living or once living cells, what does this mean for
scientists studying the fossils of ancient organisms? What could they learn
from studying the DNA of ancient organisms?

7. Since the strawberries were once living and we can extract DNA from
them, what does this mean about the foods you eat? Is there DNA in your
foods? How do you know?

8. Remember genes are found in DNA, and genes control traits (characteristics).
Give at least three examples of traits expressed in a strawberry.

Name:

Page 4

Extracting DNA from Strawberries

Period:

Part 2: Remember to answer in complete sentences

Put Goggles On No Goggles = No Grade
Follow Part 2 of the procedure found at your lab station.

Date:
Show instructor Part
1 Questions & get
signature doing this
sections.

Sketch observations here

1. Observations: What do you see appearing?

2. Write detailed observations below of what you saw appearing:

Dont forget to label DNA, extract,

alcohol, test tube, skewer.

Your Data

Mass

Unit

Pre-mass of the skewer

Show instructor
extracted DNA
before final massing.
& get signature.

Post-mass of the skewer

Final yield of the DNA extracted*
*To obtain the final yield of DNA extracted
subtract the post-mass from the pre-mass of the skewer.

Show instructor DNA

mass & get signature.

Mass of Strawberry vs. Mass of Strawberry DNA Extraction Yield

Initial mass of
strawberry(ies) (g)

Final yield of DNA

(g)

DNA % of
strawberry mass *

Trial 1 Data
(Your group)
Trial 2 Data
(Another group)
Trial 3 Data
(Another group)
* Final Yield of DNA / Initial mass of Strawberry = DNA % of strawberry mass

This is the
data you
will graph
by hand
on Page 5.

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Extracting DNA from Strawberries

Title:

Name:
Period:

Date:

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Extracting DNA from Strawberries

Name:
Period:

Date:

Part 1 Questions:

1. Can you tell if there is a correlation (relation) between the initial mass of the strawberry and the
final yield of DNA extracted? If so, what is the correlation?

2. What other variables (controls, errors, etc.) could affect how much DNA you extracted? (List at
least 3.) How could you make changes to increase your final yield of strawberry DNA?

3. Explain what happened (both visible and non-visible) when you added the alcohol to the extract?

4. Why is it important for scientists remove an organisms DNA? Describe to reasons and/or
applications of this technology.

5. If you extracted a persons DNA, what could this tell you about them? How would this be useful to:
A)The individual, B)The individuals doctor, C) T he individuals family, D)A police officer or court