How to Find My Genome

DNA, deoxyribonucleic acid, is unique to every living entity.

DNA is the building block from which all life is created. It takes a lot of really advanced equipment to sequence DNA and determine the order of your own genome. You must send samples of your genetic material to an advanced lab to have your genome coded. However, extracting DNA from your saliva and cheeks is a simple process using household materials. You will actually be able to see the stuff that codes the information that makes your whole body run, even if you can't unravel the code just yet.

Things You'll Need

• Saliva
• Saltwater
• Cold rubbing alcohol
• Clean glass
• 5 ml liquid detergent
• 15 ml tap water

Instructions

1. Swish the saltwater in your mouth for about 30 seconds. This will remove the saliva from your cheeks and grab a few cells from your cheeks, too.

2. Spit this mixture into the clean glass containing 15 ml of tap water and 5 ml of liquid detergent.

3. Stir this mixture gently for a few minutes. This will help break up the cell membranes and nuclear membranes, releasing the DNA inside. Be careful not to stir too briskly or you risk breaking up the DNA.

4. Pour the cold rubbing alcohol on top of the solution. This is a slow process, as you don't want to agitate the solution too much. DNA is fragile. The alcohol will dissolve all of the other compound, except for the DNA, which is insoluble in alcohol.

5. Wait 3 or 4 minutes until spindly, white clumps appear at the top of the alcohol-salt mixture. This is the DNA. Carefully, remove this material to examine under a microscope, or to test the pH balance of the DNA. You could even keep it in a little container and make jewelry out of it.

Tips & Warnings

• A kitchen teaspoon is equal to about 5 ml.

• Be gentle when mixing the saliva-salt solution, as DNA is fragile.

References

• BBC: How to Extract Your Own DNA