Isolated Genes

DNA samples from various foods were tested using polymerase chain reaction to isolate specific genes. Isolated genes were analyzed using agarose gel electrophoresis to determine whether samples contained genes that were genetically modified. Coffee was the primary food that was focused on in this experiment. The hypothesis of the experiment was that if the organic coffee sample had different molecular weighted bands in the agarose gel compared to the non organic coffee sample then the organic coffee is not a GMO. The samples tested were a PCR control, pinenut, western family corn, organic corn, starbucks, organic coffee, sub coffee. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a method of replicating a specific section of DNA for analysis. In this process the DNA is denatured with heat at 94°C which separates the strands and allows for a primer to be annealed to the strand once the temperature cools to 58°C. Primers are molecules that target specific DNA sequences. dNTPs is then synthesized to the DNA strand by Taq polymerase once the solution is heated to 72°C to extend the

The sample was vortexed for 30 seconds and then incubated at 56°C for 15 minutes. 300 μl of NaCl solution was added to the sample before being vortexed for 30 seconds. The sample was centrifuged for 5 minutes before the supernatant was transferred into a new tube. The DNA was precipitated from the supernatant using an equal volume of room-temperature isoproponal before being incubated at room temperature for 5 minutes. The supernatant was removed which left a DNA pellet at the bottom of the tube. The pellet was washed by slowly adding 500 μl of 70% ethanol before being centrifuged for 2 minutes. The supertanent was removed and the DNA pellet was allowed to dry for 5 minutes. The pellet was resuspended in 200 μl of DNA Resuspension Buff by vortexing. The samples were then placed in ice to