DNA Extraction from Wheat Germ

Yesterday in Biology we did a lab where we extracted DNA from wheat germ. Yes wheat germ does have DNA! I was suprised too!Well I worked with Leigh and we had a lot of fun.

Here was what we did and learned during the experiment:


1. Place 1 Gram of raw wheat germ in a 50 ml test tube.

2.Add 20 ml of hot tap water and mix constantly for 3 minutes.
          Observations: After mixing the two together we thought the mixture looked like watery bread. The water turned a cloudy color.

3. All 1 ml (or a drop) of 1/4 teaspoon of detergent and mix gently every minute for 5 minutes.(this means to stir for a couple seconds then let sit for a minute for 5 minutes) Try not to create foam.
          Observations: After we added the detergent the mixture turned yellow. It kind of looked like chunky Mountain Dew.
             -At this step Kyle helped us understand that the cell membrane is dissolving.

4.Remove any foam that may have collected.

5. VERY SLOWLY pour 14ml of alcohol down the test tube at an angle. It needs to form a layer on top of the mixture. Don't mix the two layers together. The DNA forms a solid at the line between the water and alcohol. If the two layers mix the DNA will not precipitate.(Form a solid-Thanks for explaining that word Michael!)
          Observations: After adding the alcohol four layers form in the test tube. There is a wheat layer, detergent layer, a white filmy layer, and the alcohol.
        
6. Let the test tube sit for a couple minutes. You will start seeing something white, stringy, and filmy.
            - At this step the DNA precipitates at the line between the water and alcohol. Another way of saying this is forming a solid at the line between the water and alcohol. (Thanks for helping me understand that word Michael!) The solid that is being made is DNA(that's the white filmy layer!)

7. Use a wooden stick to take out the DNA.
             -To me the DNA looked way different when we took it out of the tube. In the tube is was white and filmy, but out of the tube it looked like a "big booger!"


Self Analysis: I had a lot of fun with Leigh doing this lab. It didn't take a long time and it was really easy to understand. One thing I learned is wheat germ has DNA! I had a lot of fun with this lab.