How to Extract DNA from Anything Living. First, you need to find something that contains DNA. Since DNA is the blueprint for life, everything living contains DNA. For this experiment, we like to use green split peas. But there are lots of other DNA sources too, such as: Spinach Chicken liver Strawberries Broccoli Certain sources of DNA should not be used, such as: Your family pet, Fido the dog Your little sister's big toe Bugs you caught in the yard Step 1: Blender Insanity! Put in a blender: 1/2 cup of split peas (100ml) 1/8 teaspoon table salt (less than 1ml) 1 cup cold water (200ml) Blend on high for 15 seconds.
The blender separates the pea cells from each other, so you now have a really thin pea-cell soup. Step 2: Soapy Peas Pour your thin pea-cell soup through a strainer into another container (like a measuring cup). Add 2 tablespoons liquid detergent (about 30ml) and swirl to mix. Let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes. Pour the mixture into test tubes or other small glass containers, each about 1/3 full. Why am I adding detergent? Longevity gene may also boost memory › News in Science (ABC Science) News in Science Monday, 12 July 2010 AFP A gene linked to increased life span also appears to play a critical role in boosting memory and brain power, according to a study.
The SIRT1 gene, called Sirtuin1 in humans, seems to enhance memory and nerve-cell development in the brain as well, according to the new findings, published in the journal Nature . The work could provide leads for drugs to combat Alzheimer's and other debilitating neurological diseases, the researchers said. A team led by Professor Li-Huei Tsai, director of the neurobiology program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston, had earlier demonstrated that Sirtuin1 boosts neuron survival in mice genetically modified to mimic certain degenerative brain disorders.
"We have now found that SIRT1 activity also promotes memory and plasticity," says Tsai, referring to the ability of healthy brain cells to interconnect. Reduced density Finally, they were less able to discriminate old from new objects in memory tests. Fisher Scientific - Fisher BioReagents* Restriction Enzymes - EcoR I (Source: E. coli RY 13) "Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)" Biology Animation Library.
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