21th October, 2025
SSEBUYONDO ALEX ALI 225-083061-36986 BMLT
TITLE
EXTRACTION OF HUMAN DNA FROM CHEEK CELLS
ABSTRACT
This reason for extraction is to isolate and precipitate human DNA from
buccal epithelial cells . Cheek cells were collected and lysed using a
detergent solution to break down the cell and nuclear membranes.
Proteins were denatured and removed and finally the DNA was
precipitated using cold ethanol, allowing it for its visualization as
whitish ,stringy substance. The successful precipitation confirmed the
presence of extractable DNA within the collected cells
INTRODUCTION
The fundamental molecule of heredity is DNA which carries the genetic
instructions for development ,functioning , growth and reproduction of
all known organisms. The buccal epithelial cells lining the inside of the
cheek are an easily accessible sources of human genetic material.
The process involves the three main stages for successful extraction
Lysis which involves breaking open the cell and nuclear membranes to
release DNA
Removal of proteins enzymes are used as means to separate DNA from
associated proteins for example histones
Precipitation cold ethanol is used to make the DNA insoluble in
aqueous solution allowing it to aggregate and become visible
Materials & reagents
0.9% salt water Methylene blue largest test tube
95% cold ethanol slides cork stopper
25% mild detergent plastic cup tea spoon
Procedure
1. Swell two teaspoon of 0.9% salt water in your mouth for 30
seconds. This collects some of buccal cells that line the inside of
your mouth
2. Spit the water into small beaker. Pour this into a large test tube
containing 5ml of 25% liquid soap
3. Cap the tube and gently rock it on its side for 3 minutes. The
detergent will break open the cell membrane to release the DNA
into the soap solution
4. Open and slightly tilt the tube and pour 5ml the chilled 95%
Ethanol down the side of tube so that it forms a layer on the top
of your soapy solution
5. Allow to stand for 1 minute
6. Place a thin glass rod into the tube
7. Stir the rod in the direction to wind the DNA strands onto the rod.
Be careful to minimize mixing of the ethanol and soapy layers. If
too much shearing has occurred, the DNA fragments may be too
short to wind up and they may form clumps instead. You may try
to scrape these out with rod
8. After you have wrapped as much as DNA on the rod as you can ,
remove the rod and scrape theDNA into small tube containing the
rest of 95% . Your DNA should stay solid in this solution
RESULTS
STEPS OBSERVATION
Detergent lysis Solution becomes slightly cloudy
Ethanol addition An opaque , cloudy, whitish, stingy
substance begins to aggregate
DNA spooling The white slimy substance is easily
spooled onto the rod
Discussion
The detergent was crucial for the lysis step , breaking down the lipid
rich cell and nucleus membranes. The 0.9% salt water provided an
isotonic environment for cell collection and also aided the process of
neutralizing the negative charge of the phosphate backbone of the
DNA, allowing the DNA strands to clump together more easily. Addition
of 95% ethanol was [Link] is a polar molecule and is soluble in
the polar aqueous solution. However when cold ethanol is introduced ,
the dielectric constant of the solution is lowered forcing the DNA to
come out of solution hence precipitate. The resulting white, stingy mass
is a collection of millions of DNA strands
Applications of DNA extraction
Used in forensics science
Used in manufacturing of medicine by observing how genes respond to
different medications
Conclusion
Human DNA was successfully extracted and visualized from buccal
epithelial cells using a simple protocol involving lysis with detergent
and precipitation with cold ethanol. The macroscopic observation of
the white ,stingy precipitate confirmed the isolation of DNA.
REFRERENCES
LEHNINGER PRINCIPLES OF BIO CHEMISTRY 8th Edition
2021 by David [Link] & Micheal M.
Molecular Cloning 4th Edition 2012 by Micheal R. Green,
Joseph
Molecular biology of cell 7th Edition 2022 by Bruce alberts
, Rebecca Heald, Alexander Johnson , David Morgan ,
Martin Raff , Keith
Campbell Biology 12th Edition 2021 by Lisa Urry, Micheal
Cain, Steven Wasserman , Peter Minorsky, Jane Reece
but Neil Campbell was original author