Pulling the slimy DNA out of strawberries

This podcast describes a simple experiment to extract DNA from strawberries using household materials. The process involves creating a soapy solution, crushing strawberries, mixing the two, filtering the mixture, and finally precipitating the DNA with isopropyl alcohol. The outcome is a visible, stringy DNA that is surprisingly slimy, demonstrating the basic process of DNA extraction and its presence in everyday objects like fruit.

Strawberry DNA Extraction

• 00:00:06 The experiment begins with creating a salty soap solution and crushing strawberries to release their DNA. Then, the solution is mixed with the crushed strawberries, and the mixture is filtered to remove solid debris. This step ensures that the DNA is accessible for the next stage.

DNA Precipitation

• 00:01:34 The filtered strawberry extract is then mixed with ice-cold isopropyl alcohol, causing the DNA to precipitate out of the solution, becoming visible as a stringy substance. The DNA appears slimy and is described as ‘grosser than expected’, illustrating the unique physical characteristics of DNA.