Amazing! Want To See Your DNA? It's Easy, See How!, page 1

Hi ATS, thought I would share this as I personally found it very cool and thought others may too. I looked to see if this has been posted before and couldn't see it, but if it has feel free to delete.

This is a cool experiment that enables you to see your own DNA, it's easy and can be done from your home.

First I will show you my DNA to prove it's possible....

Do you see the DNA strands running vertical in the liquid?

Here's a quick video of me showing how the strands stick together when the glass it twisted around, it starts of a bit blurry, sorry, but it gets clearer around 0:35....



Within those strands contains all the information/instructions required to build me, everything!

So this is how it's done -

First swish your tongue around your mouth's wall to dislodge some loose skin cells.

Then spit your saliva into a clear tube, or small shot glass in my case

Then add washing-up liquid (I used about the same amount as the saliva, maybe a bit more) . This breaks open the cells and also degrades the membrane to expose the cells nucleus which contains the DNA.

Then add some salt (I used a fairly small amount, but I think you could use a bit more for better effect). This helps the molecules to stick together.

Then add alcohol (I used vodka, about twice as much as the saliva).DNA is insoluble to alcohol.

You should start to see the DNA strands form almost straight away, I waited 10 mins and it seemed to get a bit clearer.

Cool huh? All you need is washing-up liquid, slat and alcohol and boom, your DNA.

This was all taken from the BBCs 'Wonders of Life' programme hosted by Brian Cox, if you ever get the chance to watch this programme, take it, it's amazing. Most of Brian Coxs work is amazing though, highly recommended.

The programme does go into evolution (one of ATS's hot topics) and it's very hard to walk away after watching this programme without believing in it, but that's for a different thread. I will say however, that I think DNA proves evolution beyond a doubt, but that's just me.

The funny thing was, after doing this, I didn't want to throw it down the sink when I was finished

Anyway hope you enjoyed and try it at home, it's amazing to see and even more amazing to realize that all the instructions required to build a human is there in front of you.

reply to post by CaptainBeno

---

I can assure you it's 100% true.

Try it and see for yourself, failing that write to a scientist and he/she should confirm.

I wish I could post the documentary but only UK residents can access it on BBCi player, maybe one day it will hit youtube, I will keep an eye out for it.

Anyone from the UK want to confirm?

reply to post by RiverRunsFree

---

Oh, I believe you. And sure, there is DNA in there.....it's your spit after all.

It's just that I couldn't see it being that easy? I'm still gonna give it a go.

Anything to get the vodka out of the cupboard! Wife: "Honest love, it's for science!"

www.bbc.co.uk...

Heres the link that contains exact details of the DNA and how it works, this method .

reply to post by CaptainBeno

---

Lol, by the way the green stuff is washing-up liquid.

The saliva is not visible really, it's mostly vodka and washing-up liquid.... promise

How the extract DNA Why does this work?
DNA is found in every living cell and can easily be extracted using household items.

Ingredients
Source of DNA - this can be anything that contains DNA like split peas, spinach or broccoli
Detergent- like washing up liquid or household cleaner
Enzymes - meat tenderizer, pineapple juice or contact lens cleaning solution
Rubbing alcohol (70-95% isopropyl or ethyl alcohol


This linkilovebacteria.com...

Please watch the above link I posted in my post above this one. Its BBC one he makes it so that its not green. Its clear whitish..

Better video

reply to post by tgidkp

---

Great, thanks for the confirmation, I do have a question but I'm not sure if you would know.

Do the DNA strands stay like that for a long time or do they eventually dissolve or disappear? Does anyone know?

Thanks for the additional info guys

reply to post by RiverRunsFree

---

what you are seeing is great big globs of insoluble (in alcohol) protein that the DNA is wound (and wound and wound again) around. this makes a clump which is large enough to see with naked eye. but you shouldn't imagine that you are looking at a single molecule of the double-helix...DNA is very very tiny....electron microscope tiny.

but it will stay just like that in solution indefinitely, AFAIK.

reply to post by rimjaja

---

incorrect. the globs that are visible in the op's image is a proper DNA extraction.

the swab kit that you describe is merely a fancy version of the op's protocol. the reagents and technique outlined in the op are common experiments done in the biotech classroom. the DNA in the image is pure enough to run a reliable PCR or cloning or digest/electrophoresis reaction.

Bill Nye: Creationism is not appropriate for children.
  Posted 15 days ago with 20 member flags

Christians help me debunk these non sense atheistic beliefs about Genesis please
  Posted 3 days ago with 14 member flags

Satan hid the fossils to trick everyone!
  Posted 18 days ago with 11 member flags

Just ONE question on evolution
  Posted 15 days ago with 5 member flags

M U T A T I O N - Friend or Foe of Evolution?
  Posted 8 days ago with 5 member flags

When a Child is Born...the Evolution begins
  Posted 5 days ago with 5 member flags

Denisovans
  Posted 15 days ago with 3 member flags

Are Humans the result of Hybridization?
  Posted 14 days ago with 3 member flags

Newest topics, updated in real-time:

Newest topics getting flags, in real-time:

Newest topics getting replies, in real-time: