Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Ok, so i know how to extract DNA from a, let's say, strawberry. But how would you obtain just the four codes? Also, I've heard you could use hydrochloric acid to break the Phosphate backbone, what about the Hydrogen bonds? How can you break those?

If I'm understanding this correctly, you do not want genomic DNA but just want the individual nucleic acids? Can I ask what this is for? Do you want NTPs (nucleotide phosphates). You want them all separately?

Sorry, I'm not sure I understand,
Stephanie

Hey,

Helicase is an enzyme that can break the hydrogen bonds between the DNA backbones.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helicase

However, heat can be used to separate the strands.

http://seqcore.brcf.med.umich.edu/doc/e ... ncing.html


I hope that helps!