Isolating Genetic Material
In the captivating world of biology, students now have the opportunity to embark on an exciting adventure – extracting DNA from a tomato. This hands-on activity provides a practical understanding of the fundamental component of all living organisms, a molecule that holds genetic information for plants and animals: DNA.
Before diving into this intriguing experiment, it's beneficial to build a strong foundation of DNA concepts. Related articles such as "DNA, chromosomes and gene expression", "DNA and biotechnology", and "Biology idea 5: Organisation" can help students grasp the intricacies of DNA.
As students prepare to extract the DNA from a tomato, they will find it interesting to know that DNA is common to all plants and animals. In fact, there are approximately 100 trillion cells in the human body, resulting in over a billion kilometres of DNA. If the DNA in one human cell is unwound, it would be almost 2 metres long.
To set the stage for this experiment, students may find previous activities such as "Introduction to cells", "Inside a cell", and "DNA detective" useful. These activities provide valuable context and background knowledge for the DNA isolation experiment.
In this activity, students can choose from a variety of organisms to extract DNA from, including onion cells, human cheek cells, or strawberries. Each organism has a specific chromosome number, for example, humans with 46 chromosomes, onions with 16 chromosomes, and strawberries with 56 chromosomes. It's important to note that every organism has a unique number of chromosomes.
The method described in this activity is based on a method by Petra Frey. For those seeking an alternative approach, another method of DNA extraction can be found on Learn.Genetics. A diagram showing the double helix structure of DNA is available for reference during the activity.
Extracting DNA from cells is a common technique used by scientists studying genes and other fields. By participating in this activity, students will gain a firsthand understanding of the importance and application of DNA extraction in the world of science.
For those interested in further reading, a referencing hub media is available for this article. Additionally, for those seeking additional resources, an article on the method used in this activity can be found on Petra Frey's website.
In conclusion, the activity of extracting DNA from a tomato offers students a unique opportunity to delve into the fascinating world of genetics and gain practical, hands-on experience in a scientific technique used by researchers worldwide.
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