Observing Morphological Variations in Some Plant Fruits, Fruit Flies and Humans
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Observing Morphological Variations in Some Plant Fruits, Fruit Flies and Humans INTRODUCTION Genetics is the biological discipline concerned with biological properties transmitted from one generation to another and is of course, centered with genes. To better understand the concept of genes, it is important to have knowledge as to where they are located—in the deoxyribonucleic acid or simply known as DNA. The discovery of the DNA molecule, as well as its double helix structure, was a landmark in twentieth century biology because it provided explanations as to how the genetic information is carried in chemical form and how it is accurately copied. The genetic information stored and carried in the linear sequences of nucleotides in the DNA contains the instructions for all the proteins the organism will synthesize and is said to comprise its genome (Alberts et al., 2008). Thus, the exercise was aimed to have students learn DNA extraction techniques and distinguish them from one another using plant and animal cells as models as well as association with the extraction methods used in DNA extraction. MATERIALS AND METHODS In the extraction of DNA from plant cells, the cells were mechanically disrupted with a blender. Then, the pulp was added and stirred for 30-60 seconds into 20 ml extraction solution which is a solution of meat tenderizer, salt and dishwashing liquid. The solution was then filtered and made sure to be not too thick and not too watery. After which, ice cold ethanol was added to the filtrate and a clumpy white precipitate is seen to form that is DNA. On the other hand, saliva was collected in a test tube from one of the group members for the extraction of human DNA. Then, a drop of soap, a pinch of meat tenderizer and a pinch of salt were simultaneously added to the solution and tapped of one minute each. After which, ice cold ethanol was added and mixed gently to form the white precipitate that is the DNA. References Alberts, B., A. Johnson, J. Lewis, M. Raff, K. Roberts and P. Walter. 2008. Molecular Biology of the Cell, 5th ed. Garland Science, Taylor and Francis Group 1
Observing Morphological Variations in Some Plant Fruits, Fruit Flies and Humans
Observing Morphological Variations in Some Plant Fruits, Fruit
Flies and Humans
INTRODUCTION1
Genetics is the biological discipline concerned with biological
properties transmitted from one generation to another and is of
course, centered with genes. To better understand the concept of
genes, it is important to have knowledge as to where they are
locatedin the deoxyribonucleic acid or simply known as DNA.The
discovery of the DNA molecule, as well as its double helix
structure, was a landmark in twentieth century biology because it
provided explanations as to how the genetic information is carried
in chemical form and how it is accurately copied. The genetic
information stored and carried in the linear sequences of
nucleotides in the DNA contains the instructions for all the
proteins the organism will synthesize and is said to comprise its
genome (Alberts et al., 2008).Thus, the exercise was aimed to have
students learn DNA extraction techniques and distinguish them from
one another using plant and animal cells as models as well as
association with the extraction methods used in DNA
extraction.MATERIALS AND METHODSIn the extraction of DNA from plant
cells, the cells were mechanically disrupted with a blender. Then,
the pulp was added and stirred for 30-60 seconds into 20 ml
extraction solution which is a solution of meat tenderizer, salt
and dishwashing liquid. The solution was then filtered and made
sure to be not too thick and not too watery. After which, ice cold
ethanol was added to the filtrate and a clumpy white precipitate is
seen to form that is DNA.On the other hand, saliva was collected in
a test tube from one of the group members for the extraction of
human DNA. Then, a drop of soap, a pinch of meat tenderizer and a
pinch of salt were simultaneously added to the solution and tapped
of one minute each. After which, ice cold ethanol was added and
mixed gently to form the white precipitate that is the DNA.
References Alberts, B., A. Johnson, J. Lewis, M. Raff, K.
Roberts and P. Walter. 2008. Molecular Biology of the Cell, 5th ed.
Garland Science, Taylor and Francis Group
