Research and Development - Biotechnologist

How to extract DNA from a Kiwi Fruit

Middle Secondary

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Critical and creative thinking

Teacher: Kiwi DNA Extraction:

How do you purify DNA from cells? Students extract DNA from kiwifruit to learn about the chemical and physical properties of DNA. This activity provides a first-hand understanding of how DNA can be isolated for further analysis, such as DNA fingerprinting. Students also reinforce their understanding of cell structure and biological macromolecules. We use a kiwifruit protocol because it uses commonplace materials and requires little equipment. (Source: Biotech Project Activities)

1. The Naked Scientists from the University of Cambridge, UK have come up with a simple experiment to extract DNA from Kiwi Fruit. All the instructions and equipment you need are detailed.

Local copy: All the instructions and equipment you need are detailed if this link no longer works.

What You Need

• A kiwi fruit (an onion will do if you don't have a kiwi)

• 5g washing up liquid or hand soap

• 2g salt

• 100ml tap water

• 100ml of ice cold alcohol (white rum or methylated spirits are best). Put in freezer for at least 30 mins.

• kettle

• 3 jars

• large basin

• some thing to mash the kiwi with

• sieve or coffee filter paper

• knife (be careful!)

2. Follow the instructions listed and you will extract DNA in one lesson period.

3. Look at the explanation of how the chemicals used breaks open the cells and allows the DNA to be released. What did you learn from this experiment?

Knowing how to extract DNA will help you understand how DNA Fingerprinting occurs.

How does DNA fingerprinting work? - Naked Science Scrapbook
https://youtu.be/ZxWXCT9wVoI

Teacher: For further classroom activities around Biotechnology see Biotech Project

Why isn't Australia capitalising on being "an algae gardener's paradise"?

Middle Secondary

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Literacy

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Numeracy

Australian Curriculum General Capability: ICT Capability

Australian Curriculum Cross Curriculum Priorities: Sustainability Priority

1. Read four the following articles about the Biofuel Industry in Australia. Take notes on its feasibility, the effects on the environment, and, the cost of construction and maintenance.

 

 

2. Create a poster on "The Potential of Biofuels in Australia" using Canva. All you need do is sign up - it is free.

3. From the perspective of a Biotechnologist, gather evidence on the Biofuel Industry and its potential. Write a letter to the PM about this potential [particularly economic potential] and why Government funding and maybe more CSIRO research should go into this Industry.

 

 

Genetically Modified Foods: Because we can, does it mean we should? The ethics of GM foods!

 

Secondary

 

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Critical and creative thinking
Australian Curriculum General Capability: Personal and social capability

Australian Curriculum General Capability: Ethical Understanding

Australian Curriculum Cross Curriculum Priorities: Sustainability Priority

 

Philosophy

 

Cooperative Learning Activity

 

 

 

1. Before looking into the ethics of GM foods, you need to research GM and its science, the effects on different interest groups, and on Australian industry. Look at the following videos and websites: 

GM Food: The Conversation: updated regularly.

 

 

 

The Conversation 6 July 2015: Can gene editing provide a solution to global hunger?	The Conversation 3 June 2016: Moving beyond pro/con debates over genetically engineered crops
ABC News 11 May 2022

What did you learn from these resources?

2. Read the following article from The Conversation 27 June 2014 by Dr Christopher Mayes
Post-Doctoral Fellow in Bioethics, University of Sydney.

 

3. Write up your own ethical view of GM foods.

 

4. Share and discuss with a partner.

 

Using VideoScribe [free version], together create an animation video. As a class, view each VideoScribe.

 

5. Set up a debate with the title:

"Because we can, does it mean we should? The ethics of GM foods!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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