Extracting DNA from kiwi fruit
DNA (or Deoxyribonucleic Acid) is a long molecule that is found in all living things. It is the
instruction manual that tells each of the cells in your body what to do. DNA determines the
colour of your eyes and the colour of your hair. Here’s a simple experiment to extract and
visualise the DNA from kiwi fruit.
Children should be supervised!
1) Prepare your equipment
You will need:
- Two kiwis
- Pineapple juice
- Table salt
- Washing up liquid
- Cold alcohol - put in the freezer before you start
the experiment (I used surgical spirit but strong
rum also works well)
- Two small glass beakers (or plastic cups)
- Sieve
- Bowl
- Tall glass/measuring cylinder
- Kitchen Roll
- Stirring rod (or chopstick)
- Knife
- Fork
- Chopping board
2) Make the extraction solution
DNA is tightly packaged inside the nucleus of cells. The
membranes of the cell and of the nucleus are rich in fats so we
can break them down using a detergent. The salt helps to get
rid of the proteins that package the DNA tightly inside the
nucleus.
- In one of your beakers measure out about 80mls water
- Add half a teaspoon of salt and stir until dissolved
