Pine Lake Students Pull DNA From Strawberries
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Students at Pine Lake Middle School got hands-on with science this week and a little gross-out fun! Using everyday kitchen chemicals like dish soap and rubbing alcohol, they extracted DNA straight from strawberries.
First, they mashed the strawberries. Then they added a special extraction fluid to break open the cells. Using cheesecloth, they strained out the solids, leaving just the juice. Ice-cold rubbing alcohol made the DNA float to the top, where it looked just like thick snot.
Brave students scooped the sticky strands out with wooden stir sticks and were even dared to touch it. Selfies were allowed so they could proudly show their families that they really did handle DNA. Parents skeptical? The selfies proved it.
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