Subject: How to Touch Some DNA
From: Leo Nikora
25 February 2003
Internet Patent News Service
by Greg Aharonian
The 3 March 2003 issue of US News and World Report has a bunch of nice stories on the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA by Watson, Crick AND Franklin. At one point, they provide a recipe on how to touch some DNA in your kitchen.
1) Mash a source of protein, for example, a handful of strawberries. Add in an equal amount of water. Throw in a couple of squirts of shampoo and a spoonful of salt. Stir gently.
2) Strain the mash through a wet paper towel or cheesecloth so you are left with a clear fluid.
3) Pour an equal amount of ice-cold rubbing alcohol into the fluid. You will see a cloud form. Take a chopstick or the handle of a spoon and twirl it inside the cloud to capture long, gooey strings of nucleic acid (DNA and RNA).
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