DNA Lab Part 2

DNA can be dissolved, it can be denatured into its constituent thingymagics (phosphate, base, deoxyribose sugar). Denaturation can occur from high temperature, high concentration alkaline solution, high concentration urea and high concentration of formamide

So, when dna is precipitated in alcohol, was it dissolved, or was it in it's original molecularly thin form, just not clumped with the other strands? Many thanks.

Of course DNA can only be seen with a powerful electron microscope but there is such a massive amount clustered together that it appears as a tissue

Thanks mate~!
5/5

Nice site 'n videos!

Cheers.

=.= You'll need a powerful electronic microscope to see DNA

you said alcohol will not disolve dna, just curious- what will disolve dna?

I believe that the positive charged Na ions bind to the negatively charged phosphate backbone of the DNA molecule, causing an opening of the secondary (and tertiary) structure. The atoms force open the molecule through steric hindrance, similar as to why all molecules have defined angles and shape. Also, they prevent the binding of positively charged histone proteins that help wind the DNA.

How do the ions "interact" with the dna to make it unwind?

Heh that's pretty cool. The DNA looks like a bunch of fibers.