Experiment #4: DNA Extraction (Banana and Onion)

Royo, Jeramea P. BS BIOLOGY- 3rd Year

September 14, 2017 Mr. Ace Bryan S. Cabal
I. Introduction
DNA is a nucleic acid located in the cell's nucleus. It makes up the genetic material and is
bound to several types of proteins. The nuclear and the cell membranes are a tough protective
barrier, made of lipids and proteins, which need to be eliminated in order to release the DNA.
DNA is found in the cells of every living organism. It is incredibly small, but we can see it by
extracting DNA and isolating chains of it. All organisms are made up of cell. All cells have
nucleus, which is the control center of the cell. The nucleus have a complete set of blueprints,
which is the DNA. DNA determines the organism's characteristics. Even bananas surprisingly
still share about 60% of the same DNA as humans.
Purification of protein is one of the most important parts in protein research to understand
their function, as they may partly or completely be involved in any DNA synthesis activity.
Protein purification is required to determine its unique characteristics, including size, charge,
shape, and function
In this experiment, our aim is to be able to release or make the DNA appear and see a DNA with
our eyes even without a microscope and be able to extract it.
II. Methods
MATERIALS

 Banana
 Salt
 Warm water
 Liquid soap
 Blender
 Toothpicks
 Strainer
 Glass jar
 Rubbing alcohol
 Knife
A. Banana

Place your banana pieces in the

Using your knife, cut your blender, add a teaspoon of salt Mix in the blender for 5 to
banana into tiny pieces to and slightly cover the mixture 10 seconds making sure the
expose more of the cells with warm water. mixture is not too runny.
 Carefully pour very cold Add about 2 teaspoons of Pour the mixture into the
rubbing alcohol down the side liquid soap and gently stir the glass jar through the strainer.
of the glass stopping near the mixture. You should try not to You want the jar to be about
top. create bubbles when stirring half full.

Wait for 5 minutes to allow Use the toothpicks to extract

the DNA to separate from the DNA that floats to the
the solution. surface. It will be long and
stringy.

B. Onion

Place your onion pieces in the

Using your knife, cut your Mix in the blender for 5 to
blender, add a teaspoon of salt
onion into tiny pieces to and slightly cover the mixture 10 seconds making sure the
expose more of the cells with warm water. mixture is not too runny.

Carefully pour very cold Add about 2 teaspoons of Pour the mixture into the
rubbing alcohol down the side liquid soap and gently stir the glass jar through the strainer.
of the glass stopping near the mixture. You should try not to You want the jar to be about
top. create bubbles when stirring half full.

Wait for 5 minutes to allow Use the toothpicks to extract

the DNA to separate from the DNA that floats to the
the solution. surface. It will be long and
stringy.
 III. Results
A. Banana B. Onion

IV. Discussion
The addition of salt will help the DNA strands to stick to each other in clumps large
enough for you to see. Mashing the banana enable us to extract the DNA. Addition of liquid soap
helps the cell membrane and the nuclei to be broken apart, releasing the DNA. By filtering the
mixture, it allows to collect the DNA. By putting alcohol, it helps the clumps of DNA to form..
Then, there will appear a white, long, and stingy substance which is the DNA and it will be
removed by using toothpicks in extracting it.
Unfortunately, we did not able to extract DNA from the Onion but we successfully found
DNA on Banana and able to successfuly extract it.

V. Conclusion/Realization

DNA is small and microscopic but in this experiment, I conclude that even if it is
small, we could also see it visibly with our own eyes the DNA of the Banana even
without using the microscope.

It is amazing to see with our own eyes the DNA because before, I thought it is not
possible, but now I know how we could see it and it feels really amazing seeing the
DNA being separated with other substances and DNA being successfully extracted,
VI. Reference

https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-extract-dna-from-a-banana-373317
http://www.rhfleet.org/sites/default/files/files/Banana%20DNA%20Extraction.pdf
https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/banana-dna
http://www.edhsgreensea.net/Biology/biopdfs/Lab_DNA_Extraction.pdf
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2009/574398/