Lesson 3

Lesson 3: DNA Isolation from Plant Tissue

Purpose: This lesson is designed to give students experience in performing a basic biochemical extraction, and to have the GEE WHIZ! experience of actually seeing DNA.

Time: One 90-minute class period or two 50-60 minute periods

Materials Preparation:

Plant tissue such as pea or Desert Spoon
Coffee grinders
Dry ice
50-mL conical polypropylene or glass tubes
Centrifuge
Hot water bath at 60°C
CTAB buffer (available from research lab - store at room temperature)
Chloroform : isoamyl alcohol (24:1)
Fume hood (or well-ventilated area)
Pipettes
Ice-cold isopropanol

Student Objective(s):

List and describe the steps taken to isolate DNA from plant tissue, explaining the chemical and physical properties used.

Lesson Plan:

(1) Briefly describe each step of the DNA isolation procedure with the class prior to beginning the activity. Emphasize the safety issues and potential trouble areas as written in the "DNA Isolation from Plant Tissue" hand-out. (10-15 minutes)

(2) Supervise the students as they work in groups of 2 to perform the procedure. The students should be able to move through the entire procedure in 60 minutes.

(3) Hand out and explain the assignment, "Isolation and Purification of DNA from Plant Tissue."

Supporting Materials:

"DNA Isolation from Plant Tissue" - Procedure
"DNA Isolation from Plant Tissue" - Lab Sheet
"DNA Isolation from Plant Tissue" - Answer Key