| DNA may be small and it may seem | | | | where the fun begins and you don't even |
| complicated but the mystery behind | | | | have to be a lab professional to try |
| deoxyribonucleic acid is unfolding | | | | your own extraction process. Keep in |
| quickly (even as you read this article | | | | mind however that the paternity test |
| most likely). An increased | | | | extraction processes may be somewhat |
| understanding of DNA also continues to | | | | different than the process experiment |
| generate ideas for real-life | | | | that I am about to introduce to you but |
| applications, many of which are | | | | many of the principles are still the |
| fascinating forms of DNA testing. | | | | same. |
| How can something so small and composed | | | | Some online content2 sponsored by the |
| of seemingly obscure as deoxyribonucleic | | | | University of Utah shows you how you can |
| acid play a part in our lives? One | | | | extract the DNA from dried peas. The |
| answer is the paternity test. | | | | great thing is that you can try this |
| The Paternity Test: One Application for | | | | from home. You can take a look at the |
| DNA | | | | content for more info but I will show |
| A paternity test is accomplished by | | | | you a quick paraphrased process that can |
| taking a sampling of a child's DNA and a | | | | be followed as well: |
| parent's DNA to exclude or include the | | | | 1) Open the Cell |
| possibility of parentage. Testing the | | | | The online content says you can do this |
| DNA of a confirmed parent and a | | | | with some water and a blender! |
| potential parent can help lab scientists | | | | Simply buy a bag of dried peas and blend |
| determine paternity more quickly but the | | | | them with water. |
| DNA of two parents is not required. Lab | | | | 2) Open the Cell's Nucleus |
| scientists can often prove paternity by | | | | The online content suggests that you use |
| exclusion (100% accuracy) or by | | | | detergent (of the liquid variety) |
| inclusion (99.9% accuracy). | | | | Open the cell's nucleus. Simply mix the |
| A paternity test may seem complicated | | | | detergent with the pea mixture. |
| but now that it's down to a science it's | | | | 3) Separate the DNA from its Protective |
| not quite the mystery that it seems to | | | | and Architectural Proteins |
| have been in the past. I found a brief | | | | The online content suggests that you use |
| online explanation1 which led me to | | | | a tenderizer of meats or thejuice from a |
| additional questions, additional answers | | | | pineapple to separate the proteins from |
| and the rest of this article! | | | | the DNA sample. |
| 1) The Sampling | | | | 4) Separate the Floating Fats and |
| First of all, there must be a sampling | | | | Proteins from the Floating DNA |
| of DNA taken from a living specimen like | | | | The online content suggests doing this |
| you or me. However you can't just reach | | | | by adding alcohol to the pea liquid |
| in and grab a chunk of DNA like you | | | | Do not mix; the alcohol should create a |
| would dig into a cracker barrel. | | | | top layer of liquid over the pealiquid. |
| Nope-it's a bit more complicated. The | | | | 5) Take a Look at Your DNA sample |
| first step of DNA extraction is to take | | | | Since the DNA will choose "to dwell" in |
| a sample of blood or saliva. (You can | | | | the alcohol and the fats andproteins |
| easily get a sample of saliva by | | | | will stay in the water, the DNA should |
| swabbing the inside of your cheek). | | | | finally be visible at thispoint. |
| This "swab sample" will provide a lab | | | | Of course, with human cells, the process |
| professional with a DNA sample that is | | | | might not be so simple, but I think the |
| still mixed with other molecules and | | | | example mentioned above provides a good |
| chemical make-ups that you wouldn't need | | | | visualization of a process that is |
| for the paternity test. So, you have to | | | | probably very similar. |
| separate the DNA from those other | | | | To learn more about the next steps in |
| substances. It's like separating the | | | | analyzing DNA and to learn more about |
| crackers from several other samples that | | | | how DNA might be used in a paternity |
| are in the same barrel. | | | | test, please read part II of "DNA |
| 2) The Extraction | | | | Applications and the Paternity Test." |
| Okay. So how do the lab scientists | | | | (To locate the article simply "Google" |
| extract DNA from the rest of the | | | | the article title along with my (the |
| substances floating around? This is | | | | author's) name). |