Demystifying PCR: fostering scientific literacy through hands-on PCR education

For PCR methods where you want an answer fast, and not necessarily a quantitative answer, the quick extract method is convenient. This can alternatively be made out of chaotropic salts. For these kits, however, we bought a quick extraction buffer at a reasonable price. (Methods for making your own buffer will be included in appendices). 

Items in the kit

pre-labelled tubes with Quick extraction buffer (tubes labelled QE-""). 

Sterile Q-tips

Equipment you will need for the extraction: 

Heat block or Water bath set to 65degreesC

Steps: 

1. take 3 sample tubes labelled QE-CS, QE-Sus1, QE-Sus2

CS = crime scene, Sus1 = Suspect 1, Sus2 = Suspect 2

Note that are going to develop other Mysteries - some including plant materials, such as wheat, barley, rye DNA for detecting gluten in a "crime scene" for a mystery of "who got glutened and which food did it?" . This may be important as not everyone will be comfortable working with pig or cow samples.

2. using a the sterile q-tips, swab the "crime scene" and place swab into the tube labelled QE-CS.

Crime scene = beans with bits of fur on the beans. 

3. using a the sterile q-tips, swab the "suspect 1" and place swab into the tube labelled QE-Sus1. 

Suspect 1  (either fur will be attached from grooming local park cow or a stand-in of a piece of beef steak)

4. using a the sterile q-tips, swab the "suspect 2" and place swab into the tube labelled QE-Sus2.

Suspect 2 (sample will be either fur from grooming local park pig or a stand-in of a piece of pork)

5. Move each swab around vigorously in each tube for about 2 minutes. 

6. Close the cap and place in the Heat Block or water batch which should be at 65degreesC, for 5 minutes. 

7. Place on ice. 

These are your DNA samples.