We will no longer be conducting classroom visits, but we're happy to bring prepared materials to classroom teachers in Arizona to conduct the activities independently. This activity provides a first-hand understanding of how DNA can be isolated for further analysis, such as DNA fingerprinting.
Students also reinforce their understanding of cell structure and biological macromolecules.
We use a kiwifruit protocol because it uses commonplace materials and requires little equipment. Students use agarose gel electrophoresis to determine the composition of different biological dyes or food coloring agents. This activity helps students learn how molecules can be separated and identified by electrophoresis. Students perform agarose gel electrophoresis to analyze DNA samples from a mock crime scene. Based on DNA fingerprinting profiles that are simulated to represent the two suspects, the victim, and DNA from the crime scene, students determine which suspect likely committed the crime.