Wheat Germ Lab
Wheat Germ DNA Isolation
Darius Xavier Johnson
4/4/2014
Purpose: The purpose of this experiment was to isolate the DNA of wheat germ cells and to analyze that DNA for absorption rates when denatured and annealed.
Reagent Table:
Reagent
Molecular Weight (g/mole)
Boiling Point (°C)
MeltingPoint (°C)
Density
Hazards
NaCl
58.44
1413
801
2.165 g/ml
Skin and eye irritant
Inhalation
Ethanol
46.07
78.5
-114.1
1.59 g/ml
Skin and eye irritant
Introduction: Chromatin is a complex of DNA and proteins (histones) that make up the contents of the nucleus of a cell. It has 4 main functions: to package DNA into a smaller volume to fit in the cell, to strengthen the DNA to allow for mitosis, to prevent DNA damage, and finally, to control gene expression and DNA replication. The structure of chromatin consists of a series of DNA wrapped around histones to form nucleosomes. But during mitosis the chromatin is compacted to form chromosomes. Each human has 23 pairs of chromosomes consisting of a sugar/phosphate backbone and nitrogenous base. There are 4 nitrogenous bases: Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine, and Thymine. Adenine and Thymine are always paired with each other while Guanine and Cytosine always paired. The other nucleic acid found in the nucleus is RNA. There are 4 major differences between DNA and RNA: DNA is double stranded while RNA is single stranded, RNA has Uracil instead of Thymine, DNA has a double helix structure, and RNA has a ribose for a sugar and DNA has a deoxyribose. In this lab we were focusing on DNA and its extraction from wheat germ. There are two to three basic steps in DNA extraction. The cell must be lysed to release the nucleus. The nucleus then must also be opened to release the DNA. At this point the DNA must be protected from enzymes that will degrade it. Once the DNA is released, it must then be precipitated in alcohol.
Procedure: This lab was spilt over 2 lab periods. During the first lab period the
Darius Xavier Johnson
4/4/2014
Purpose: The purpose of this experiment was to isolate the DNA of wheat germ cells and to analyze that DNA for absorption rates when denatured and annealed.
Reagent Table:
Reagent
Molecular Weight (g/mole)
Boiling Point (°C)
MeltingPoint (°C)
Density
Hazards
NaCl
58.44
1413
801
2.165 g/ml
Skin and eye irritant
Inhalation
Ethanol
46.07
78.5
-114.1
1.59 g/ml
Skin and eye irritant
Introduction: Chromatin is a complex of DNA and proteins (histones) that make up the contents of the nucleus of a cell. It has 4 main functions: to package DNA into a smaller volume to fit in the cell, to strengthen the DNA to allow for mitosis, to prevent DNA damage, and finally, to control gene expression and DNA replication. The structure of chromatin consists of a series of DNA wrapped around histones to form nucleosomes. But during mitosis the chromatin is compacted to form chromosomes. Each human has 23 pairs of chromosomes consisting of a sugar/phosphate backbone and nitrogenous base. There are 4 nitrogenous bases: Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine, and Thymine. Adenine and Thymine are always paired with each other while Guanine and Cytosine always paired. The other nucleic acid found in the nucleus is RNA. There are 4 major differences between DNA and RNA: DNA is double stranded while RNA is single stranded, RNA has Uracil instead of Thymine, DNA has a double helix structure, and RNA has a ribose for a sugar and DNA has a deoxyribose. In this lab we were focusing on DNA and its extraction from wheat germ. There are two to three basic steps in DNA extraction. The cell must be lysed to release the nucleus. The nucleus then must also be opened to release the DNA. At this point the DNA must be protected from enzymes that will degrade it. Once the DNA is released, it must then be precipitated in alcohol.
Procedure: This lab was spilt over 2 lab periods. During the first lab period the