Strawberry Dna Extraction Lab Worksheet Middle School
Learning about DNA is an important part of any science curriculum, but it can be a difficult subject to teach. Fortunately, there are many fun and engaging activities that can help students understand the basics of DNA, including a strawberry DNA extraction lab. This lab worksheet is designed for middle school students and provides a step-by-step guide to extracting DNA from strawberries.
What is DNA?
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) is the genetic material that makes up all living organisms. DNA is responsible for storing and transmitting genetic information from one generation to the next. It is made up of a long chain of nucleotides, which are the building blocks of DNA.
Why extract DNA from strawberries?
Strawberries are a great source of DNA because they have a high level of pectin, a substance that holds the cells together. When you mash up strawberries, you break apart the cells and release the DNA. This makes strawberries a great choice for a DNA extraction lab.
Materials
To extract DNA from strawberries, you will need the following materials:
- Strawberries
- Dish soap
- Salt
- Water
- Rubbing alcohol
- Coffee filter
- Plastic ziplock bag
- Test tube or small plastic cup
- Wooden stick or toothpick
Procedure
Follow these steps to extract DNA from strawberries:
- Place one strawberry into a plastic ziplock bag and seal it.
- Mash the strawberry for about one minute, until it is completely mashed up.
- Add 1/4 teaspoon of dish soap, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 cup of water to the bag.
- Seal the bag and mix the contents by gently squeezing the bag for about one minute.
- Place a coffee filter over the test tube or small plastic cup.
- Pour the strawberry mixture through the coffee filter and into the test tube or small plastic cup. The coffee filter will catch the strawberry pieces and other debris, leaving only the liquid in the test tube or small plastic cup.
- Slowly pour rubbing alcohol into the test tube or small plastic cup until you have a layer of alcohol on top of the strawberry mixture. The alcohol should be about 1/3 the volume of the strawberry mixture.
- Wait for a few minutes and observe the test tube or small plastic cup. You should see a white, stringy substance forming between the layers of liquid. This is the DNA.
- Dip a wooden stick or toothpick into the test tube or small plastic cup and gently stir the DNA. You can then lift the DNA out of the test tube or small plastic cup and observe it.
Conclusion
By following this simple lab worksheet, middle school students can learn about DNA and how it is extracted from strawberries. This lab is a great way to make a complex subject more understandable and engaging.