Question

Post-lab questions for Part 1 (DNA Isolation):

Answer the following questions:

1. Using the simulation as a guide but using your own words to explain the procedure, answer the following:
   1. How were the cheek cells collected from the “person” in the simulation?
   2. What had to happen to the cheek cells in order to release the DNA from the nucleus of the cells?
   3. After adding salts to the solution, it needed to be centrifuged. What happened during the centrifugation step?
   4. Isopropyl alcohol was then added to the solution containing the DNA. Why was the isopropyl alcohol added?
2. Identify four potential uses for the isolated DNA:
   1. Two uses of DNA for the identification of a specific person:
   2. Two uses of DNA that do not involved the identification of a specific person (Note that you may need to think about topics that were discussed earlier in the class):

Answer 1

Ans a. Inside of mouth was chewed for 30 seconds, water was taken inside the mouth and spitted in the cup to collect cells

Ans b. Lysis buffer (50 mM Tris pH 8.0, 1 % Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), 1 mM Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)) has to be added to cells in order to lyse cells and release their DNA

Ans c. Centrifugation is conducted for the purification of DNA from salt and cell debris. They settle as precipitate and DNA lies in the supernatant which has to be recovered.

Ans d. Isopropyl alcohol was added to precipitate the DNA.

2 potential uses of DNA-

a. For person identification- DNA sequencing, DNA fingerprinting

b. Two other uses of DNA- Genetic engineering, DNA nanotechnology