{"id":4101,"date":"2013-03-11T09:56:59","date_gmt":"2013-03-11T14:56:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kabt.org\/?p=4101"},"modified":"2013-03-11T15:06:15","modified_gmt":"2013-03-11T20:06:15","slug":"inquiry-in-action-dna-isolation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kabt.org\/?p=4101","title":{"rendered":"Inquiry in Action – DNA Isolation"},"content":{"rendered":"

I know that many of us are familiar with isolating DNA using a salt solution and an alcohol layer. \u00a0The most common procedure uses strawberries, and we see oodles (a technical term) of DNA. \u00a0The students can even go so far as to pull the precipitated DNA out of solution and place it in a necklace. \u00a0The whole procedure is a cool way to introduce DNA, but I would urge everyone to consider looking to this lab with an inquiry eye.<\/p>\n

I asked my students, if that procedure can isolate DNA… then what has DNA? \u00a0We have a short list of various samples: \u00a0animal cells (we used human buccal cells but chicken liver also works), plant cells (strawberries), fungus cells (mushrooms), and a soil sample. \u00a0We attempted to isolate DNA from each sample and answered our question. \u00a0Still not a terribly remarkable lab.<\/p>\n

What made this experience post-worthy was what the students did from here. \u00a0A group of boys in my last hour turned to me with about five minutes left in their class period with a revelation, “Mr. Ralph, this means we need to run a sample of bacteria to confirm our hypothesis.” \u00a0They had hypothesized that all cells have DNA. \u00a0I was caught so off-guard that I had to take a moment to formulate an answer. \u00a0They weren’t even doing a lab report for this lab, and their notes were only for use on the quiz. \u00a0I told them yes, that is the next reasonable step. \u00a0They asked if it was even possible, and I quickly described how they could grow bacteria in a broth culture. \u00a0They then could centrifuge the sample and attempt DNA isolation from the pellet. \u00a0They wanted to know if they could actually do it, and they would even come in outside of class. \u00a0I couldn’t believe it. \u00a0Of course you can!<\/p>\n

I had no idea if it would work or not, but what the heck. \u00a0The students were true to their word and came in before school three days in a row to get their results. \u00a0Sure enough, it worked like a charm and their hypothesis was confirmed. \u00a0I plan to make this a “scripted” extension for the lab next year. \u00a0As so often happens, students come up with some of the best ideas when given the chance.<\/p>\n


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I know that many of us are familiar with isolating DNA using a salt solution and an alcohol layer. \u00a0The most common procedure uses strawberries, and we see oodles (a technical term) of DNA. \u00a0The students can even go so far as to pull the precipitated DNA out of solution and place it in a
+ Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1142,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_s2mail":"yes","_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4101","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-labs","category-student-research-ideas"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t