Why is important for scientists to be able to remove dna

There are a lot of reasons why we might want to extract DNA from a plant cell Why would scientists want to extract DNA out of a plant cell? Cory Grand. Oct 7, Explanation: This is something I do on a regular basis, actually! Related questions What is the function of the addition of salt during DNA extraction? Introduction Have you ever wondered how scientists extract DNA from an organism?

Overall, DNA tells an organism how to develop and function, and is so important that this complex compound is found in virtually every one of its cells. Each cell has an entire copy of the same set of instructions, and this set is called the genome. They can use DNA to make new medicines or genetically modify crops to be resistant to insects.

They can solve who is a suspect of a crime, and can even use ancient DNA to reconstruct evolutionary histories! To get the DNA from a cell, scientists typically rely on one of many DNA extraction kits available from biotechnology companies. During a DNA extraction, a detergent will cause the cell to pop open, or lyse, so that the DNA is released into solution. Then alcohol added to the solution causes the DNA to precipitate out.

In this activity, strawberries will be used because each strawberry cell has eight copies of the genome, giving them a lot of DNA per cell. Most organisms only have one genome copy per cell.

Observations and results Were you able to see DNA in the small jar when you added the cold rubbing alcohol? As shown in this photo, DNA, a long stringy molecule, can be lifted out of a solution by the use of a glass rod or wooden stick which it naturally wraps around when turned. The extraction of DNA is pivotal to biotechnology. It is the starting point for numerous applications, ranging from fundamental research to routine diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making.

Extraction and purification are also essential to determining the unique characteristics of DNA, including its size, shape and function. This he did as part of a project to determine the chemical composition of cells which he saw as the means to unravelling the fundamental principles of the life of cells. Initially, he began this research by using lymphocytes drawn from lymph nodes but was unable to get sufficient quantities for analysis so switched to using leucocytes, white blood cells, which he gathered from pus found on fresh surgical bandages collected from a nearby surgical clinic.

In the course of his work on leucocytes he noticed the precipitation of a substance when acid was added and that this dissolved following the addition of alkali. Mierscher decided to call the new substance 'nuclein' by virtue of its presence in the nuclei of the cell.