Home Genetics / Genomics Extraction: High Molecular Weight Genomic DNA From Soils & Sediments l Protocol Preview
Steps
  1. 1 Prepare denaturing buffer with beta mercaptoethanol 00:56
  2. 2 Assemble and chill mortar and pestle 01:20
  3. 3 Add soil sample and denaturing buffer to mortar 01:30
  4. 4 Cover sample with liquid nitrogen 01:43
  5. 5 Grind sample until powdery and homogeneous 01:48
  6. 6 Repeat grinding with additional liquid nitrogen 01:56
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Extraction: High Molecular Weight Genomic DNA From Soils & Sediments l Protocol Preview

Protocol
Difficulty
intermediate

Steps

1
Prepare denaturing buffer with beta mercaptoethanol

Complete the denaturing buffer by adding beta mercaptoethanol to a concentration of 0.5 percent. Prepare the solution fresh or use buffer less than one week old kept at 4 degrees Celsius.

▶ 00:56
2
Assemble and chill mortar and pestle

Obtain a dewar of liquid nitrogen and prepare an autoclaved, pre-chilled mortar, pestle, and spatula for use in grinding the soil sample.

▶ 01:20
3
Add soil sample and denaturing buffer to mortar

Place a two-gram frozen soil sample in the pre-chilled mortar and add one milliliter of the denaturing solution.

▶ 01:30
4
Cover sample with liquid nitrogen

Add liquid nitrogen to the mortar to fully cover the soil sample.

▶ 01:43
5
Grind sample until powdery and homogeneous

Use the pre-chilled pestle to grind the sample until the soil particles appear powdery and homogeneous and the sample begins to melt.

▶ 01:48
6
Repeat grinding with additional liquid nitrogen

Add more liquid nitrogen to the mortar and repeat the grinding step to ensure complete homogenization.

▶ 01:56

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critical
DNA Fragmentation and Size Reduction
Extracted DNA shows reduced fragment size on gel electrophoresis or pulse-field gel analysis. UHMW DNA appears degraded with smaller molecular weight distribution than expected.
💡 6 · ✓ 6
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