Human Cheek Cell DNA Extraction
Learning through hands-on science
Experiment overview
Students will extract genomic DNA from their own cheek cells, then precipitate and bottle it in a cool helix-shaped vial.
Educational benefits
This experiment will teach students about:
- The structure and function of DNA
- The process of DNA extraction
- The importance of DNA in our lives
Materials
- Cheek cells (collected from students' mouths using a sterile swab)
- Lysis buffer (a solution that breaks down cell membranes)
- Precipitation buffer (a solution that causes DNA to precipitate out of solution)
- Helix-shaped vials
- Centrifuge
- Pipettes
Procedure
1. **Collect cheek cells.** Have students gently scrape the inside of their cheeks with a sterile swab. 2. **Add lysis buffer to the cheek cells.** Transfer the cheek cells to a tube containing lysis buffer. Vortex to mix. 3. **Incubate the mixture.** Incubate the mixture at 65°C for 10 minutes. This will break down the cell membranes and release the DNA. 4. **Add precipitation buffer to the mixture.** Add precipitation buffer to the mixture. Vortex to mix. 5. **Centrifuge the mixture.** Centrifuge the mixture for 10 minutes at 10,000 rpm. This will cause the DNA to precipitate out of solution. 6. **Transfer the DNA to a helix-shaped vial.** Carefully transfer the DNA to a helix-shaped vial. 7. **Store the DNA.** Store the DNA in a cool, dark place.Assessment
Students can be assessed on their understanding of the experiment by asking them to:
- Write a report on the experiment
- Create a presentation on the experiment
- Take a quiz on the experiment
Extension activities
Students can extend their learning by:
- Researching different types of DNA extraction methods
- Investigating the applications of DNA extraction in medicine and forensics
- Designing their own DNA extraction experiments
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