Extracting your own DNA at home -- Myriad Genetics

Summary

In this fun and educational video, Dr. Jeffrey Tro, Senior Vice President of Operations at Mir Genetic Labs, demonstrates how to extract your own DNA in just a few simple steps using common household items. The process involves creating a salt solution, gargling it, adding dish soap, and finally, introducing rubbing alcohol to reveal visible DNA strands. The experiment is explained in an easy-to-follow manner, making it a great hands-on activity for anyone interested in learning more about genetics and the science of DNA extraction.

Takeaways

• 😀 The script introduces a simple, at-home experiment for DNA extraction.
• 😀 DNA is described as the 'code of life' that determines everything about an organism.
• 😀 The experiment involves five steps: making a salt solution, gargling, adding dish soap, adding rubbing alcohol, and observing the DNA.
• 😀 Materials needed include table salt, water, a graduated cylinder, dish soap, rubbing alcohol, and disposable cups.
• 😀 The process starts with creating a saltwater solution by dissolving table salt in water.
• 😀 The participant (Michelle) gargles the saltwater solution for one minute to collect cells from the mouth.
• 😀 After gargling, the solution with cells is spat into another glass for the next steps.
• 😀 Dish soap is added to the saltwater solution to break open (lyse) the cells and release DNA.
• 😀 The soap is stirred gently to avoid creating bubbles, which would interfere with the DNA extraction.
• 😀 Rubbing alcohol is added to the solution, and the DNA can be observed after a few minutes of waiting.
• 😀 The script encourages viewers to try the experiment at home and see their own DNA extracted in the process.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the experiment described in the script?

The purpose of the experiment is to demonstrate how to extract your own DNA using simple household materials, allowing anyone to observe their own DNA in just a few steps.

Why is salt used in the DNA extraction process?

Salt helps to break down the cell membranes and neutralizes the negative charges on the DNA molecules, making it easier for the DNA to be released from the cells into the solution.

What role does dish soap play in this experiment?

Dish soap helps to break down the cell membrane by dissolving the fats and lipids, which is crucial for releasing the DNA from the cells. It also helps in lysing (breaking open) the cells.

Why is it important to stir gently after adding dish soap?

Stirring gently prevents the formation of bubbles, which can interfere with the process and hinder the observation of DNA. Bubbles can also make it harder to separate the DNA from the solution.

What is the purpose of using rubbing alcohol in this DNA extraction process?

Rubbing alcohol helps to precipitate the DNA from the saltwater solution. The DNA becomes visible because it is not soluble in alcohol, allowing it to clump together and form strands that can be seen.

Why is it necessary for Michelle to gargle the salt solution for a full minute?

Gargling for a full minute ensures that enough cells from the inside of the mouth are collected into the salt solution, providing a sufficient amount of DNA for extraction.

What happens to the cells when dish soap is added to the saltwater solution?

The dish soap breaks open the cell membranes, releasing the DNA into the solution. The soap disrupts the lipids and proteins that make up the cell walls, causing the cells to lyse (burst).

Can the process be done with any type of alcohol, or is rubbing alcohol specifically necessary?

Rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) is preferred because it has the right properties for DNA precipitation. Other types of alcohol, like ethanol, can also work, but rubbing alcohol is commonly used due to its availability and effectiveness.

What should be observed after adding rubbing alcohol and waiting for 3 minutes?

After waiting for 3 minutes, DNA should start to appear as stringy or cloudy clumps in the solution, making it visible to the naked eye.

What materials are needed to conduct the DNA extraction experiment at home?

To conduct the experiment, you will need table salt, a clear glass of water, measuring tools, a disposable cup, dish soap, rubbing alcohol, and a container for the solution from the gargle.