Extracting DNA from Strawberries

DNA, or Deoxyribonucleic Acid, is the molecule of life. DNA exists in every single organism, from the smallest bacteria to the largest mammal, and is the only known molecule that has the ability to replicate itself.

DNA is a long fiber – like a hair – only thinner and longer. It is made from two strands that stick together with a slight twist. The DNA is organized into sections called genes and is coiled around proteins to form chromosomes. Genes can be turned on or off depending on the cell's needs.

In this activity, the students will demonstrate that the substance containing the instructions to make and sustain a living thing is present and can be isolated from its cells. That substance, sometimes called the “code of life” is also known as DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). In human cells, there are about 6 feet of DNA in each of your 70 to 100 trillion cells.