DNA isolation for humans is a rather simple process, but for other organisms it can be quite difficult. Researchers at Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona, have
developed a new procedure that simplifies the chromosomes of DNA
isolation from cactus tissue. It's difficult to get an accurate reading of DNA from cacti because of polysaccharide-based mucilage content and other compounds. To extract the DNA you have to use toxic chemicals and modify protocols to get an accurate reading. Shannon D. Fehlberg and some colleagues figured out a way to make testing easier. Now instead of using the plant epidermis they grind up the spine of the cactus. This makes the procedure easier and quicker. This discovery can help the work of genetics in the future.
Link: http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2013/03/05/spinal_tap_using_cactus_spines_to_isolate_dna.html
N.O.S. Themes:
1. Science is collaborative- There were many people that helped with this discovery.
2. Science is tentative- The way of getting DNA from cacti has changed and will probably change again.
3. Science is based on evidence- There were tests involved to make sure the new method worked.
It is interesting that researchers have found a new way to sample cactus DNA. I wonder if human DNA is easy to isolate because we've been working on it for so long, or if it's fundamentally different in a way that makes it easy to sample.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130305174653.htm
I did an article about DNA too. I wonder why it's so much more difficult to sample plant DNA? But now that this is possible, I am curious to know what other discoveries we will make about cactuses and other plants. In my article, scientists were able to trace human chromosomes back to the time before modern humans existed. Since plants are much older than humans, this seems like a great opportunity to learn more about plant genetics.
ReplyDeleteThis is like the lab we did in class with the fruit. It's interesting that tougher plants' DNA can be found in a similar way. I found an article that explained an instance when plant DNA was use to solve a murder. They used the DNA to identify the plant to be the Palo Verde tree. By identifying this tree they linked the suspect to the crime scene.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nfstc.org/pdi/Subject09/pdi_s09_m01_04_c.htm