Strawberry DNA Extraction Experiment
Extract real DNA from a strawberry using dish soap, salt, and rubbing alcohol. Pull out gooey white strands and hold the blueprint of life in your hands.
What You'll Need
- 12-3 strawberries
- 2Zip-lock bag
- 3Dish soap
- 4Salt
- 5Warm water
- 6Cold rubbing alcohol (kept in freezer beforehand)
- 7Cheesecloth or coffee filter
- 8Clear glass
- 9Wooden skewer or chopstick
What You'll Need
2-3 strawberries
A zip-lock bag
Dish soap, salt, and warm water
Cold rubbing alcohol (chill in freezer for 30 minutes beforehand)
Cheesecloth or a coffee filter
A clear glass
A wooden skewer or chopstick
How to Play
Mash strawberries in a sealed bag until smooth.
Mix extraction solution: 1 cup warm water + 1 tbsp dish soap + 1 tsp salt.
Add 2 tablespoons of solution to the bag. Gently mix for 2 minutes.
Strain through cheesecloth into a clear glass.
Slowly layer cold rubbing alcohol on top of the liquid.
Wait 2-3 minutes. White, stringy strands appear between layers.
Spool the strands onto a skewer. "You're holding DNA!"
The Science Behind It
The soap breaks open cell membranes (which are made of fats — soap dissolves fat). Salt causes DNA strands to clump together. When you add cold alcohol, DNA precipitates out of the solution because it's insoluble in alcohol. The white gooey strands are millions of DNA molecules bundled together — each one containing the complete genetic instructions for building a strawberry.
Tips
Strawberries work best because they have 8 copies of their genome (octoploid), yielding lots of visible DNA.
The rubbing alcohol MUST be very cold. Put it in the freezer 30+ minutes before the experiment.
Pour the alcohol SLOWLY down the side of the glass. Disturbing the layers mixes everything and hides the DNA.
Bananas and kiwis also work. Try different fruits and compare the amount of DNA extracted.
This is real molecular biology. Your child is performing the same first step scientists use to study genes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does this activity take?
This activity takes about 30 min, with 5 min of preparation time beforehand.
What materials do I need?
You'll need: 2-3 strawberries, zip-lock bag, dish soap, salt, warm water, and 4 more items.
What age is this activity for?
This activity is designed for 8-12 years. You can adapt it for younger or older children by adjusting the complexity.
Can this be done indoors?
This activity is designed for indoor play, making it perfect for rainy days or when you're staying inside.
How difficult is this activity?
This activity has a moderate difficulty level. It may require some preparation or guidance, but is manageable for most families.
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