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DNA Extraction: Gathering Knowledge And Information

By Sam Jones


Deoxyribonucleic acid, better known as DNA, is the source of existence for all living things. Therefore, gathering knowledge and information through DNA extraction is vital. This knowledge and information helps us in so many different ways; from solving crimes to finding a cure for diseases and disorders. Commonly referred to as the footprints of life, these complex strands hold the answers.

Deoxyribonucleic acid holds information about life, genetics and so much more. It is the molecular biology of living things. There are different techniques which use the information in order to categorize, catalog, analyze and compare. The most common is known as sequencing, which takes and compares the sample to others held within a universal database. Florescence in situ hybridization, more commonly referred to as FISH, uses the strands to categorize different bacteria. The terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism, referred to as TRFLP, is used for analyzing the temporal and spatial patterns of marine bacterioplankton.

These molecular strands of information can be obtained from using several different machines found in labs that specialize in observation, research and analyzing deoxyribonucleic acid. These machines include the bead beater, gel box, sonication devices, French press and the most common the centrifuge. Each of these machines specializes in the separation of cells and viruses to aid in the removal of the molecular strands.

There is certain protocol that must be followed in order to successfully obtain the necessary deoxyribonucleic acid from cells and capsids. The protocol can vary from place to place but the same common procedures include; breaking or lysing the cells, using a detergent to break down the lipids, breaking the protein away from the sample using some sort of protease like salt or ammonium acetate, and last but not least dissolving the protease and making the sample aggregate together with either ethanol or polypropanol alcohol for easily removal of the sample.

Common household products can be used in this breakdown of cells and collection of deoxyribonucleic acid samples for observation, analysis and comparison. The fact that something so scientific can be done with simple ingredients such as alcohol, detergent and salt is mind boggling. It goes to show something so complex and complication can be obtained simply with the use of common products.

Something so small but so vital is the only way to describe the deoxyribonucleic acid contained within all living things. It holds the key too many unknown answers and can aid in so many different aspects such as forensics, paternity, genetics and the list goes on. The extraction of DNA is vital to obtain more knowledge and understanding.




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