Biochemistry Laboratory Formal Report

Isolation and characterization of

deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
from onion cells

CHEMISTRY

600L
EXPT 08
PAGE XX - XX

Marj Hipolito, Reina P. Tolete, Clarisse Anne D. Yung, Angelo D.

Villaroman*
Department of Chemistry, College of Science
Date submitted: 12 November 2015
*Corresponding author; e-mail: angelo.villaroman@yahoo.com

Abstract
The purpose of this experiment is to isolate and characterize
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from onion cells. DNA is a genetic material
composed of three (3) parts: a ribose sugar, a phosphate group, and a
nitrogenous base (adenine, guanine, uracil, thymine). In the experiment,
isolation of onion cells DNA was undergone through homogenization
process which separates other cell components from the genetic material.
Afterwhich, the isolate is tested for its concentration and purity (via spectro
analysis) and characterized using different test (Murexide test, Dische
reaction, Wheeler-Johnson test, and phosphate test). The results observed
were: DNA was found to have a ___/___ ratio ____ (according to studies,
pure DNA should have __/__) and, for most of the groups, a positive results
for each test stated above.

Keywords: nucleic acids, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucliec acid (RNA),

spectrophotometry

Introduction
Write here statements and literatures related to the main subject(s) in your experiment
(1-2 pages). State the objective(s) of the experiment in the last paragraph. Label figures
or structures as Figure 1, etc. with brief description (ex. Structure of caffeine) (written

Biochemistry Laboratory Formal Report

below the figure). Where relevant, cite your references (author-year format ex. Macabeo
et al., 2012 for more than two authors; for two authors ex. Macabeo and Avelino, 2012).
Results and discussion
Describe and write here your experimental results (3rd person! 2-4 pages). Explain
and/or discuss results through related chemical principles. Express reactions and
mechanisms through chemical equations and label them as schemes (ex. Scheme 1.
Mechanism of Fischer esterification (written below the scheme)). Tabulate results in a
table with description (ex. Table 1. Volume of ethanol collected during simple distillation)
(written before the table!). Cite references as needed (format as intro). Observe proper
nomenclature of compounds. Conclusions are included here as the last paragraph.
Experimental methodology
Write here detailed description of your experimental procedures (past passive, third
person). Do not start sentences with numericals! Observe proper nomenclature of
compounds, writing of chemical formula and symbols, and units of measurements. DO
NOT include here schematic diagrams!
References
Format (alphabetically arranged!)
For journal references
Dumdei, E.; Andersen, R. J. J. Nat. Prod. 1993, 56, 792794.
For book references

Biochemistry Laboratory Formal Report

Cordell, G. A. Introduction to Alkaloids: A Biogenetic Approach; John Wiley & Sons:
New York, 1981; p 43.
Pelletier, S. W.; Mody, N. V. In The Alkaloids; Rodrigo, R. G. A., Ed.; Academic Press:
New York, 1981; Vol. 18, Chapter 2, pp 100216.
For web resources
http://chemistry.about.com/od/namedreactions/ss/Beckmann-RearrangementReaction.htm (retrieved on Jul 19, 2012)

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