The Process Of DNA Extraction

DNA extraction is a procedure made to collect DNA for subsequent molecular or forensic analysis. DNA extraction consist of the following three steps - breaking the cells open to expose the DNA inside them; removing membrane lipids by adding a detergent; precipitating the DNA with an alcohol. DNA is the abbreviation for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which is the genetic material present in the cells of all living organisms. DNA is the fundamental building block for an individual's entire genetic makeup. A person's DNA is the same in every cell (with a nucleus). The DNA in a person's blood is the same as the DNA in their skin cells, semen and saliva.

Techniques using organic reagents for DNA extraction are well accepted in the forensic science community. Organic extraction methods are often preferred for the extraction of biological stains containing small amounts of DNA or degraded DNA. These methods could be considered less harsh than other methods, such as the use of Chelex beads, because no boiling step is required.

Here is the organic DNA extraction process. Historically, DNA extraction was accomplished by mechanical or chemical disruption of cells to release their organelles and contents. This works well in samples containing many cells, but has required adaptation for use with the much smaller biological samples collected at crime scenes. Organic extraction is a conventional method that uses organic chemicals to isolate genomic DNA. The procedure can be described in four steps: solubilization of the stain components; denaturation and hydrolysis of proteins; removal of denatured proteins; purification of DNA. DNA extraction is all about removing everything from a cell besides its DNA. DNA is present in the cells of all living creatures and plants. So the idea is to purify a molecule getting rid of everything but that molecule. So for example, if we want to extract the DNA of an orange, we would have to remove all parts of the cell besides the DNA, i.e. cell wall (kiwi is a plant, after all), cell membrane, mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, endoplasmic reticulum, vacuoles, lysosomes, nuclear membrane, etc. Hence, during that process, we would need something to mush the cells (blender), destroy the membranes (soap), get rid of proteins and carbohydrates (salt), separate insoluble cell stuff from soluble DNA, and finally something to get the DNA (alcohol).

On the Internet, you will probably find a lot of different DNA extraction kits. Quality of DNA is estimated by electrophoresing a small quantity of DNA (25 ng to 200 ng) on 1% agarose gel.