BI 102 - General Biology

The Activities in this Module focused on the process of replication, transcription, and translation. The Lab will look more closely at the DNA molecule itself. You will explore a variety of online resources on the Human Genome Project and extract DNA from strawberries. You will need the following document to complete the Lab:

Tabletop Lab – Exploring the DNA Molecule (Google Doc)

It is recommended that you print out the above Lab (link) and record your data and answer the analysis questions by hand as you complete the Lab. This Lab is not to be turned in or graded.

This Lab requires several "at home" supplies. Be sure to have these on hand when you are ready to start this Lab:

• Ice cold 70% - 90% isopropyl alcohol, easily found in the first aid section in your local grocery store.

• 1 cup cold water

• Ice water, to keep your solutions cold

• Cooking pot (to use as an ice bath)

• 1 – 2 clear drinking glasses or liquid measuring cups

• ½ cup of strawberries. You can use frozen strawberries, but they must be thawed to room temperature before beginning the experiment.

• Blender or Ziploc baggie (To break apart the strawberries, you can either use a blender of smash them by hand a baggie.)

• Table salt, preferably a non-iodized variety such as sea salt.

• Liquid dish soap

• Paper towel or coffee filter

• Pinch of meat tenderizer, easily found in the cooking isle in your local grocery store.

• Kitchen funnel

• Eye dropper

• Barbecue skewers or large toothpicks

• A variety of kitchen measuring utensils:

  • 1/8 teaspoon (or ¼ teaspoon that you can fill halfway)

  • 1 cup liquid measuring cup

  • 1 tablespoon

  • ½  and ¼ dry measuring cup