Share this
genomic DNA extraction from human blood: a brief introduction
by Neoteryx Microsampling on Jan 10, 2019 1:29:00 AM
Genomic DNA (gDNA) is found in the chromosomes. It has a higher molecular weight and is longer as compared to plasmid DNA. This is what scientists need and collect when doing genome sequencing.
One purpose of genome sequencing is to help scientists understand how the genome works, and how genes work together to enable growth, development, and maintenance of the entire human body or any other organism. In order for a scientist to be able to study how the genome works, a process by the name genomic DNA extraction has to take place. There are several ways to extract the genomic DNA and from different sources including blood, hair, urine, etc.
How is it done?
There are traditional and modern ways of extracting genomic DNA from the blood. The option a scientist decides to apply depends on the type of equipment available. These include phenol extraction.
Phenol extraction is the process by which a volume of phenol is added to an aqueous soup with the proteins and the DNA to be extracted. Phenol and water cannot mix therefore they form two phases which are aqueous/water and a phenol phase. These phases are thoroughly mixed forcing the phenol into the water forming an emulsion with droplets throughout. Proteins in water are denatured and divided into the phenol.
The DNA, on the other hand, stays in the water. The solution is then centrifuged forcing the phases to separate. The DNA contained in the water phase is then pipetted off while the protein solution discarded. The DNA is then concentrated and de-salted with ethanol precipitation. This method is, however, time-consuming and the reagents can be toxic and endangering to one’s health.
Other similar traditional methods of extraction include isopropanol precipitation, nonorganic solvent extraction, the formamide lysate method, and glass particle adsorption. However, due to their ineffectiveness in extracting genomic DNA from frozen, trace, and dried blood, scientists have ventured into finding better ways to perform the extraction.
Modern extraction methods include non-enzymatic salted out method and microsphere method. These methods are cost effective, less time consuming, and produce an improved quantity of DNA as compared to the traditional means.
Why is it important?
The extraction is valuable in genome sequencing and in studying genetic disorders. With the information obtained from the DNA, it is possible to develop a treatment for a specific patient as well as help with forensic investigations. Like the microsampling revolution in molecular research, it comes down to getting a lot of information from a small amount of material.
Share this
- Microsampling (186)
- Venipuncture Alternative (108)
- Research, Remote Research (88)
- Clinical Trials, Clinical Research (82)
- Mitra® Device (71)
- Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, TDM (48)
- Dried Blood Spot, DBS (37)
- Biomonitoring, Health, Wellness (35)
- Infectious Disease, Vaccines, COVID-19 (24)
- Decentralized Clinical Trial (DCT) (22)
- Blood Microsampling, Serology (21)
- Omics, Multi-Omics (17)
- Toxicology, Doping, Drug/Alcohol Monitoring, PEth (15)
- hemaPEN® Device (13)
- Preclinical Research, Animal Studies (11)
- Pharmaceuticals, Drug Development (8)
- Harpera® Tool (5)
- Skin Microsampling, Microbiopsy (5)
- Company Press Release, Product Press Release (4)
- Industry News, Microsampling News (4)
- Antibodies, MAbs (3)
- September 2023 (2)
- July 2023 (3)
- June 2023 (2)
- April 2023 (2)
- March 2023 (2)
- February 2023 (2)
- January 2023 (3)
- December 2022 (2)
- November 2022 (3)
- October 2022 (4)
- September 2022 (3)
- August 2022 (5)
- July 2022 (2)
- June 2022 (2)
- May 2022 (4)
- April 2022 (3)
- March 2022 (3)
- February 2022 (4)
- January 2022 (5)
- December 2021 (3)
- November 2021 (5)
- October 2021 (3)
- September 2021 (3)
- August 2021 (4)
- July 2021 (4)
- June 2021 (4)
- May 2021 (4)
- April 2021 (3)
- March 2021 (5)
- February 2021 (4)
- January 2021 (4)
- December 2020 (3)
- November 2020 (5)
- October 2020 (4)
- September 2020 (3)
- August 2020 (3)
- July 2020 (6)
- June 2020 (4)
- May 2020 (4)
- April 2020 (3)
- March 2020 (6)
- February 2020 (3)
- January 2020 (4)
- December 2019 (5)
- November 2019 (6)
- October 2019 (3)
- September 2019 (4)
- August 2019 (5)
- July 2019 (3)
- June 2019 (7)
- May 2019 (6)
- April 2019 (5)
- March 2019 (6)
- February 2019 (5)
- January 2019 (8)
- December 2018 (3)
- November 2018 (4)
- October 2018 (7)
- September 2018 (7)
- August 2018 (5)
- July 2018 (8)
- June 2018 (6)
- May 2018 (5)
- April 2018 (6)
- March 2018 (5)
- February 2018 (6)
- January 2018 (4)
- December 2017 (2)
- November 2017 (3)
- October 2017 (2)
- September 2017 (4)
- August 2017 (2)
- July 2017 (4)
- June 2017 (5)
- May 2017 (6)
- April 2017 (6)
- March 2017 (5)
- February 2017 (4)
- January 2017 (1)
- July 2016 (3)
- May 2016 (1)
- April 2016 (2)
No Comments Yet
Let us know what you think