Nucleic Acid Extraction & Purification

Nucleic acid extraction and purification is a fundamental process in molecular biology, involving the isolation and purification of DNA or RNA from biological samples. This process is crucial for various downstream applications like genetic research, diagnostic testing, and biotechnology.

Test Details

Detailed Procedure:
  1. Lysis:
Cells are disrupted, usually with detergents or surfactants, to release the nucleic acid from the cell's nucleus.
  1. Removing Contaminants
  2. Precipitation:
nucleic acid is separated from other cellular components by adding an alcohol, typically ice-cold ethanol, which causes the nucleic acid to aggregate and form a precipitate.
  1. Purification:
The precipitated nucleic acid is then washed and dried to remove remaining salts and impurities.
  1. Optional Steps:
Demineralization: For bone samples, a small piece is mechanically pulverized and dissolved in a solution to release the nucleic acid, according to NSW Health Pathology. Automated Purification: Automated systems can be used to purify the nucleic acid and determine the individual's nucleic acid profile, according to NSW Health Pathology.  
  1. Barnett, R., & Larson, G. (2012). A phenol-chloroform protocol for extracting DNA from ancient samples. Methods Mol Biol, 840, 13-19. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-516-9_2
  2. Gahlon, H. L. (2020). A Brief History and Practical Applications in DNA Extraction. Chimia (Aarau), 74(11), 907-908. https://doi.org/10.2533/chimia.2020.907
  3. Gupta, N. (2019). DNA Extraction and Polymerase Chain Reaction. J Cytol, 36(2), 116-117. https://doi.org/10.4103/JOC.JOC_110_18
  4. Sun, W. (2010). Nucleic Extraction and Amplification. In Molecular Diagnostics (pp. 35-47). https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-369428-7.00004-5

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