DNA in my food? Information obtained from Mike Zeller, Biotechnology Outreach Education Coordinator

What is DNA? DNA is the blueprint of life DNA determines the characteristics of all living organisms DNA is composed of a 4-letter nucleotide alphabet referred to as A, T, C, and G. The order of the alphabet determines the characteristics of the living organisms. Each cell in the human body contains > 3 billion letters!

DNA in my food? DNA is the most efficient storage system known to humans—DNA can store 10-11 gigabytes of information per centimeter!

DNA in my food? Humans share 50% of their DNA with bananas! DNA in humans is 99.9% identical!

The only difference between living organisms is the amount and order of the DNA alphabet! Cells can contain 6-9 ft. of DNA. In an average meal, you eat approximately 55,000,000 cells or between 63,000-93,000 miles of DNA!

DNA in my food? DNA is present in the cells of all living organisms, in the nucleus on the chromosomes. The process of extracting DNA from a cell is the first step for many laboratory procedures in biotechnology. The scientist must be able to separate DNA from the unwanted substances of the cell gently enough so that the DNA does not denature (break up).

DNA in my food? You will prepare a solution of banana treated with salt, distilled water, and shampoo (detergent). The detergent breaks down the cell membrane by dissolving the lipids (fatty molecules) and proteins of the cell and disrupting the bonds that hold the cell membrane together.

DNA in my food? The detergent then forms complexes with these lipids and proteins, allowing them to be filtered out of the solution by the coffee filter, leaving the cells’ DNA in the filtrate. The salt allows the DNA to precipitate out of the filtrate in cold alcohol solution.