Dna Analysis

PV92: DNA Analysis

PCR Amplification and Gel Electrophoresis

Deoxyribonucleic acid is a very important molecule for supporting genetic variation among species. It is a double-stranded molecule held together by weak bonds between base pairs of nucleotides (adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine), and it encodes genetic information [1]. A large amount of introns (intergenic DNA) can be classified as “non-coding,” and much of it consists of repeated segments [2]. One of these segments is the element Alu. It copies itself about 500,000 times, so it constitutes roughly 5% of the human genome [2]. This DNA segment is extremely important, and that is why we want to know as much about it as we can, and someday come to a full understanding of just how important it actually is in our lives.

This experiment was conducted to show that our genotype is determined by our DNA, and going through the experimental process helps with the understanding of how scientists actually obtain certain genetic information. This experiment is an excellent way to see the processes of PCR amplification, electrophoresis, and staining, and to learn how each process works with the other to supply a final outcome. The objectives of the research were to familiarize us with these processes and to give us a greater understanding of how important DNA is and how it is a part of our lives.

In this experiment, DNA from a hair follicle was subjected to a number of processes and then analyzed to find a specific genotype (+/+, +/-, -/-). The class data was then used to perform a chi square analysis, and that