Today I was testing out a protocol for isolating DNA from a strawberry for class tomorrow. It worked beautifully. That white slimy stuff on the stick is the DNA. As well as the bubbly wispy strands floating in the clear portion of the solution. Materials used: strawberries, dishwashing liquid, water, salt and cold 95% ethanol (well, -20C actually).
Protocol taken from The Tech Museum
Each strawberry yields around 25 mls of strawberry extract- enough for 25 students.
For 3 strawberries:
~1/2 tsp salt (2.5 g)
~1/3 cup H2O (80 ml)
~1 tbs liquid detergent (15 ml)
~Chill ethanol (rubbing alc should be fine; no need to break out the Everclear) in freezer
1. Mix salt, water, and detergent together in a bowl to make the extraction liquid. This is double what you need in case you mess up. (~1 tbsp/strawberry).
2. Squish strawberries in a plastic bag.
3. Add 3 tbsp (45 ml) extraction liquid. Squish thoroughly.
4. Strain through a cheesecloth.
5. Aliquot ~1ml, or more, into each tube.
6. Slowly add cold ethanol on top. DNA precipitates at the interface.
i am doing this for my science fair project and it looks AWESOME!!