Recombinant DNA For The Home Hobbyist

Dr. Zowie writes: " Scientific American 's "Amateur Scientist" column this month tells how to amplify and isolate DNA chains in your kitchen, using the tried-and-true Polymerase Chain Reaction technique. Use it for massively parallel computing experiments; to ID friends, pets, and favorite houseplants; or to help eliminate epidemics. But what'll happen when enterprising teenagers start playing with plasmids and recombinant DNA?" I love articles that remind you that one of the ingredients it recommends playing with is a nasty mutagen. Interesting that PCR has become so common that all it takes is a hundred dollars and a dark room!

Comments

PCR Commercial

[Sempiternity]

This is just what we need, a way to rip our own DNA to shreds for the amusement of our selves, our children, and to the detrimental terror of our neighbors. I can see the commercial now.

Bored with board games? Tired of those inoportune visits by your neighbors, relatives, and door to door salesmen? Well, imagine the fun one could have in creating a new life form. Use PCR to genetically mix your dog and cat. Use PCR to clone your children into the Eintstiens you have always wanted...

<blatant plug> I used PCR to advance my genes beyond that of normal human beings, and now I have brain cancer from my enlarged frontal lobe. THANKS PCR! </blatant plug>

Yes, that is PCR, create degenerate copies of yourself, advance yourself beyone the natural order of your neighbors. Create beings with supernatural powers...wake the dead, Your imagination is the only hurdle, Why don't you use PCR to do away with it?

<blatant plug> Before I used PCR, I was the life of the party, and now I'm regarded by everyone I meet as an aberrant decrepit freak of nature. Before, I couldn't even get noticed by women, but the shrieks and cries I get as I walk down the street are music to my ears. THANKS PCR!</blatant plug>

That is PCR, order NOW... only $19.95, plus shipping and handling. We are sorry no COD's.

Warning: Ethidium Bromide

[Guppy]

Before anyone here tries actually running this, note that (as stated in the article), Ethidium Bromide is toxic and mutagenic. Ethidium Bromide is an intercalator, which means it binds itself to DNA in the spaces between base pairs (thus gumming up DNA replication). Small amounts can be disposed of down the drain, but you probably should neutralize it instead.

Incineration: Ethidium Bromide can be destroyed by burning. I wouldn't advise you to just chuck it on a fire, though, but an incinerator should probably be fine.

Adsorption: You can adsorb Ethidium Bromide with activated carbon (Like the kind you use for aquariums). I've heard that 100mg of activated carbon is sufficient for 100mL of Ethidium Bromide staining solution.

Here are also two ways to destroy Ethidium Bromide chemically. One is uses reagents that are harder to get (but does a better job), while the second uses ordinary bleach (but the destruction is less complete).

Lunn and Sansone method:
Dilute solutions containing EtBr to concentration less than 0.05% w/v (50mg/100mL). Add 20mL of fresh 5% hypophosphorous acid and 12mL of fresh 0.5M sodium nitrite solution per 100mL of EtBr solution. After at least 20 hours, neutralize with sodium bicarbonate, then dispose of down the drain. Note that the sample will give off poisonous nitrogen dioxide during neutralization.

Armour Method: Dilute solutions containing EtBr to concentrations less than 0.034% w/v (34mg/100mL). Add 10mL of fresh bleach for every 1mg EtBr. Stir at room temperature for at least 4 hours. The EtBr is converted to the physiologically inactive product 2-carboxybenzophenone, and the solution should then be rinsed down the sanitary sewer with water.