As part of their topic on Evolution and Inheritance in Science, Year 6 learnt how to extract DNA from fruits including strawberries, bananas and kiwi fruit. They learnt extraction and separation technique skills. Firstly they squashed fruits to a pulp and added water with detergent and salt. The detergent helps to break down the cell walls, releasing it from the nuclei and the salt makes the DNA clump together. Then they filtered the mixture and collected the filtrate containing the dissolved DNA. DNA does not dissolve in alcohol so when methylated spirits or surgical spirits are added, the DNA starts to appear as little strands between the two layers. You can see this in the photographs below. Finally, if enough DNA precipitates out, it can be picked up with a cocktail stick.

Year 6 all managed to successfully separate and collect DNA. Well done.