Take out the toothpick and look at the DNA! … In humans each of these cells have 2 copies of the DNA, but in strawberries each of these have 8 copies of the DNA (scientists call this octoploid). That means strawberries have 4 times as many copies of DNA as humans, making it 4 times easier to see!
Is strawberry DNA really DNA?
Whoa! The long thick fibers you pull out of the extraction mixture are real strands of strawberry DNA. As you may know, DNA is present in every cell of all plants and animals and determines all genetic traits of the individual organism.
Should human DNA look the same as the strawberry DNA?
Is the DNA in any cell in the human body the same? Explain your answer. Yes, in a multicellular organism (such as a human or a strawberry), all cells contain the same DNA.
What does DNA from the strawberry look like?
The DNA will look like a white, cloudy or fine stringy substance.
What type of DNA is in strawberries?
Strawberries are octoploid, meaning that their cells each have eight duplicate copies of each chromosome. This gives the cells a lot of DNA, which means it is easier to extract a large amount of DNA that is visible to the naked eye.
Can you extract DNA from a strawberry?
Place the coffee filter inside the other plastic cup. Put the strawberries into the plastic bag, seal it and gently smash it for about two minutes. Completely crush the strawberries. This starts to break open the cells and release the DNA.
Why can we see strawberry DNA?
When molecules are insoluble (unable to be dissolved), they clump together and become visible. DNA is not soluble in alcohol; therefore, it makes the DNA strands clump together and become visible to the naked eye.
Do strawberries have more DNA than bananas?
Strawberries have large genomes; they are octoploid, which means they have eight of each type of chromosome in each cell. Thus, strawberries are an exceptional fruit to use in DNA extraction labs and strawberries yield more DNA than any other fruit (i.e. banana, kiwi, etc.).
Why do we crush strawberries for DNA extraction?
Wash the strawberry and remove the the green leaves (called sepals). … Crushing the strawberries breaks open many of the strawberry cells, where the DNA is. The extraction buffer contains shampoo and salt. The soap molecules in the shampoo break down the membranes of the cells, releasing the DNA.
Why do strawberries have 8 sets of chromosomes?
The native British wild strawberry is a “diploid” – it has two sets of chromosomes, as in humans. The most commonly cultivated strawberry, Fragaria ananassa, is an octoploid with eight sets. … The reason is every strawberry seed contains different genetic material, the product of a myriad of potential gene combinations.
Why do strawberries have more DNA than humans?
Strawberries yield more DNA than any other fruit because they have eight copies of each type of chromosome. The long, thick fibers of DNA store the information for the functioning of the chemistry of life. DNA is present in every cell of plants and animals.
How is human DNA different from a strawberry?
Each little piece of a living thing, known as a cell, has DNA in it. In humans each of these cells have 2 copies of the DNA, but in strawberries each of these have 8 copies of the DNA (scientists call this octoploid). That means strawberries have 4 times as many copies of DNA as humans, making it 4 times easier to see!
What does the alcohol do in strawberry DNA extraction?
Ethanol or isopropyl alcohol causes the DNA to precipitate. When DNA comes out of solution it tends to clump together, which makes it visible.
What fruits can you extract DNA from?
Bananas, kiwis and strawberries all work well. (Remove the skin of the bananas and kiwi, we just want the insides!) Step 2: In a separate bowl, mix the washing up liquid, salt and tap water.
Do Different fruits have different DNA?
The simple answer is that not all fruits are the same; extractable DNA can vary from fruit type to type, and even with the same fruit, it may vary from stage to stage. … But other fruits may have more extractable DNA as they ripen because the cell walls are getting softer and the tissue easier to mash.