In this experiment, students will perform a DNA extraction to determine whether the fruit of a plant is biotic (living) or abiotic (non-living). By breaking open the cells in fruit, they can isolate and observe DNA, which is found in all living organisms.
This hands-on activity demonstrates that if something contains DNA, it must be made of cells and therefore is biotic. Through this process, students also learn about the structure and function of DNA in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, and how DNA acts as the instruction manual for making proteins that help cells carry out their functions.
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Students will perform protein purification using column chromatography to gain a greater understanding of the biomanufacturing process of going from a cell to a protein to a product.
