Isolate your DNA

Always wanted to do what scientists can do? Now you can with this trick. All you need are some kitchen supplies and a little saliva. Isolate DNA, how do you do that?

How can you isolate DNA?

Isolating DNA is also part of our DNA analysis process. Of course we use methods that are a bit cleaner and more reliable.

Follow our instructions

We are very curious if you can also isolate your DNA? Follow the manual and be a scientist for a while.

What do you need?

You will need the following items:

• A clean shot glass
• Saliva
• Washing up liquid
• Table salt
• Pineapple juice (or contact lens solution)
• Chilled alcohol, 60% or higher
• Straw
• Toothpick

What are you doing with it?

And now the question is, how can you isolate your DNA? You must take the following steps:

1. Spit into the shot glass until it is a quarter full of saliva. To produce more saliva, think of your favorite food, or think of a lemon-flavored candy. There are many cells with DNA in your saliva that come from your cheeks, for example.
2. Add a few drops of dish soap. This causes the cells to break open so that the DNA can get out.
3. Add a little bit of pineapple juice. This ensures that other proteins that have come along with your saliva are broken down.
4. Then add a tiny bit of salt. Salt causes the DNA to clump together.
5. Now mix gently by turning the glass around a bit.
6. The last step in the process is adding the alcohol. The alcohol should be layered on top of the rest of the mixture. So it is best to pour a little alcohol into another glass and then use the straw to get a little bit of alcohol out. You do this by placing the straw in the glass with alcohol and then placing your finger on the opening of the straw. Then carefully release the alcohol from the straw into the shot glass by slowly removing your finger from the straw.
7. Now you see white ‘strings’ in the top layer, this is your DNA! You can gently remove this by using a toothpick. Now you are a real scientist!

Now see how you can isolate your DNA?

Did you manage to isolate your own  DNA? Look here to see where this great idea comes from and for an additional instructional video