1.

DNA Extraction from Bananas - Lab Protocol

Objective

To extract visible DNA from a banana using common laboratory materials.

Materials:

- 1 ripe banana

- 100 ml of water

- 10 ml dishwashing liquid (detergent)

- 1 teaspoon salt

- 70% Isopropyl alcohol (chilled)

- Coffee filter or cheesecloth

- Plastic bag (zip-lock or similar)

- Measuring cup

- Beaker or cup

- Stirring rod or spoon

- Small plastic or glass container

- Pipette (optional)

- Gloves (optional for cleanliness)

Procedure:

1. Preparation:

- Peel the banana and break it into small pieces.

- Place the banana pieces into the plastic bag and seal it.

2. Smashing:

- Gently mash the banana pieces in the bag for about 2-3 minutes. This will
break open the cells and release the cellular contents.

3. Preparing Extraction Solution:

- In a beaker, mix 100 ml of water with 1 teaspoon of salt and 10 ml of

dishwashing liquid. Stir to dissolve the salt. The salt helps the DNA to stick
together, while the detergent breaks down the cell membranes and releases the
DNA.

4. Mixing with Solution:

- Add the mashed banana to the extraction solution and gently mix for another
1-2 minutes. Make sure the banana is fully submerged.

5. Filtering:

- Pour the mixture through the coffee filter or cheesecloth into a clean container
to filter out the solid banana pieces. The liquid that passes through contains the
DNA.
6. Precipitating DNA:

- Carefully pour cold isopropyl alcohol down the side of the container with the
filtered liquid. You should pour it slowly to form a layer on top of the solution.
DNA precipitates (clumps together) when it comes into contact with alcohol.

7. Observing the DNA:

- After a few minutes, you should see white, stringy material floating between
the alcohol and the liquid. This is the banana DNA.

- Use a stick or pipette to spool (gather) the DNA. You can observe it and even
touch it (it will feel slimy).

8. Clean-Up:

- Dispose of all waste properly, wash your hands, and clean the equipment used.
Science Fair Presentation Plan for Parents

Title: Banana DNA Extraction: Unlocking the Secrets of Life from a Banana

Introduction

Title of the Project: “Extracting DNA from Bananas”

-Your Name and Grade Level

-Overview: Briefly explain the objective—"Today, we are going to show how we

can extract visible DNA from something as common as a banana!"

What is DNA?

-Simple Definition: "DNA is like a blueprint that tells living things how to grow and
function."

- Fun Fact: "Bananas, like all living things, have DNA inside their cells!"

- Visuals: Show a simple image of DNA (a double helix structure).

Why Bananas?

- Reason: "Bananas are easy to work with because their cells are large, and they
contain a lot of DNA."

- Fun Fact: "Bananas have around 40% of the same DNA as humans!"

- Visuals: Picture of a banana, maybe with a diagram of cells inside it.

Materials

- List: Present the materials you used, such as a banana, water, dish soap, salt,
alcohol, and a coffee filter.

- Fun Fact: “You don’t need fancy lab equipment to extract DNA; you can do this
at home!”
Step-by-Step Process

-Step 1: Mashing the Banana

-Visual: Picture of the banana being mashed in a bag.

-Step 2: Mixing with Extraction Solution

-Visual: Show how to mix water, salt, and soap together.

-Step 3: Filtering the Mixture

-Visual: Show a coffee filter separating the solid from the liquid.

-Step 4: Adding Alcohol

-Visual: Show the alcohol layer forming above the solution, where DNA
precipitates.

What Happens Next?

-Explanation: "When the alcohol meets the liquid, the DNA comes out of the
solution and forms visible clumps."

-Visual: Photo of the DNA clumps floating between the alcohol and solution.

The Science Behind It

-Explanation: "DNA is made up of molecules that are tightly packed inside cells.
We used soap to break open the cells and salt to help the DNA stick together. The
alcohol made the DNA come out of the solution because DNA is not soluble in
alcohol!"

-Visuals: A simple diagram showing how DNA is extracted from a cell.

Observing the DNA

-Explanation: "We can now see and even touch the banana DNA. It looks like
white stringy material."

-Fun Fact: "While we can't see all the tiny details of DNA, we can observe it in a
way that shows how it works inside every living cell."

-Visuals: A close-up image of the DNA strands in the container.

Why is This Important?

-Explanation: "DNA extraction is a key step in genetic research. It helps scientists

study how organisms grow, evolve, and even develop new medicines!"

-Visuals: Show how DNA extraction can be applied in science (e.g., for cloning,
medicine, forensics).

Conclusion & Questions

-Summary: "We’ve successfully extracted DNA from a banana! We used basic

materials, and now we can see the DNA that makes bananas (and all living things)
unique."

-Encourage Questions: "Does anyone have any questions about how we did it or
why it's important?"

Tips for Presentation in Front of Parents:

1.Engage your audience: Start with a question like, “Have you ever wondered
what makes a banana… a banana?”

2.Keep it simple: Parents may not be familiar with scientific jargon, so explain
everything clearly and simply.

3.Use visuals: Show photos and diagrams to illustrate each step and make your
points clearer.
4.Demonstrate the process: If possible, have a video or live demo of the DNA
extraction in action.

5.Practice: Rehearse the presentation to make sure you're confident and calm.

By following these steps, you’ll have both a detailed protocol for the experiment
and a structured, engaging presentation for the science fair!

2. Lab Protocol: Testing of Heavy Metals in Water Using Common Lab

Chemicals

Objective:

To detect and measure the presence of heavy metals in water samples using basic
laboratory reagents.

Materials Required:

- Water sample (containing unknown heavy metals)

- Reagents:

- Sodium sulfide (Na₂S)

- Potassium ferrocyanide (K₄[Fe(CN)₆])

- Nitric acid (HNO₃)

- Hydrochloric acid (HCl)

- Ammonium chloride (NH₄Cl)

- Ammonium hydroxide (NH₄OH)

- Test tubes or small beakers

- Distilled water
- Pipettes

- Stirring rods

- Protective gloves, goggles, and lab coat

- pH strips or pH meter

- Filter paper (optional for sample purification)

Procedure:

1. Sample Preparation:

- Collect a sample of the water to be tested in a clean container.

- If needed, filter the sample to remove any debris or particulate matter.

2. pH Adjustment:

- Measure the pH of the water sample using pH strips or a pH meter.

- If the pH is not between 6.0 and 7.5, adjust it by adding dilute nitric acid or
ammonium hydroxide until it reaches the desired range.

3. Addition of Sodium Sulfide (for detecting Lead, Cadmium, and Copper):

- Add 2-3 drops of sodium sulfide (Na₂S) to the water sample.

- Stir gently and observe the color change.

- A yellow precipitate indicates the presence of lead (Pb) or cadmium (Cd).

- A black precipitate indicates the presence of copper (Cu).

4. Addition of Potassium Ferrocyanide (for detecting Iron):

- Add a few drops of potassium ferrocyanide solution to the sample.

- Stir and observe the color.

- A blue color indicates the presence of iron (Fe) (Prussian blue formation).

5. Confirmation with Ammonium Chloride & Ammonium Hydroxide (for

detecting other metals like Nickel or Zinc):

- Add 1-2 drops of ammonium chloride (NH₄Cl) followed by ammonium

hydroxide (NH₄OH).

- If a precipitate forms, the sample may contain **zinc (Zn)** or **nickel (Ni)**,
which form a white precipitate under these conditions.

6. Final Observation and Analysis:

- Record the color changes and the formation of precipitates for each metal.

- Compare the results to known standards or reference materials for

confirmation.

7. Waste Disposal:

- Dispose of all chemical waste according to local regulations.

- Ensure proper cleaning of all glassware and instruments.

Safety Precautions:

- Always wear protective gloves, goggles, and a lab coat.

- Handle acids and chemicals with care.

- Work in a well-ventilated area or use a fume hood when handling volatile

chemicals.

- Dispose of all chemical waste properly.

Presentation for the Science Fair (In front of Parents)

Introduction

-Title: Testing of Heavy Metals in Water Using Common Lab Chemicals

- Objective: Explain the importance of testing water for harmful heavy metals,
which can impact human health and the environment.

- Briefly discuss why water testing is crucial for ensuring safe drinking water.

Heavy Metals in Water

-What are heavy metals?

- Elements like lead (Pb), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), and iron (Fe) that are toxic
in high concentrations.

- Sources: industrial waste, mining runoff, contaminated water sources.

-Why is testing for heavy metals important?

 - Toxicity can cause health problems like kidney damage, neurological disorders,
and developmental issues in children.

Materials & Chemicals Used

-List of Materials:

- Water sample

- Sodium sulfide (Na₂S)

- Potassium ferrocyanide (K₄[Fe(CN)₆])

- Ammonium hydroxide (NH₄OH), etc.

-Chemicals are commonly found in the lab and help us detect specific metals in
water.

- Briefly explain each reagent’s role.

Experiment Setup

-Step-by-step procedure with visuals of test tubes, pH meter, and reagents.

-Show the process of adding chemicals to the sample and looking for color
changes or precipitates.

-Explain how to interpret results (e.g., a yellow precipitate for lead or cadmium).

Safety in the Lab

-Wear protective gear: gloves, goggles, and lab coat.

-Handle chemicals carefully: acids and chemicals can be dangerous.

-Proper disposal of waste to ensure safety and environmental protection.

Results

-Visuals of results:

- Show examples of different colors or precipitates formed after adding reagents.

- Explain the significance of each result:

- Yellow = lead or cadmium

- Blue = iron

- Black = copper

- Emphasize how easy it is to detect heavy metals using common chemicals.

Conclusion

- Key Takeaways:

- Heavy metals in water pose a serious risk to health.

- Simple laboratory techniques using readily available chemicals can be used to

detect these metals.

-Importance of regular water testing in ensuring safe drinking water.

Slide 8: Thank You

-Invitation for questions from parents and judges.

-Discuss future implications: How these experiments can be improved or used in

larger-scale environmental studies.

This format provides a clear, concise, and educational way of explaining the
science behind the testing process while keeping it engaging for parents and fair
judges.

Thank you