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Question
Why is DNA insoluble in alcohol?
Why is DNA insoluble in alcohol?
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Solution
DNA insoluble in alcohol:
- The electrostatic interactions between salt cations and the phosphates in DNA backbones serve as the foundation for the precipitation technique.
- Positively charged ions like calcium or sodium will be drawn to the backbone of DNA since it is actually a double helix made of two negatively charged phosphate-sugar backbones along which nucleic acids are bound. Ionic salts and DNA both readily dissociate in a polar solvent like water, but not as easily in ethanol or isopropanol.
- Therefore, the DNA pellets precipitate out of the solution when ethanol or isopropanol is added to a salty solution.
DNA insoluble in alcohol:
- The electrostatic interactions between salt cations and the phosphates in DNA backbones serve as the foundation for the precipitation technique.
- Positively charged ions like calcium or sodium will be drawn to the backbone of DNA since it is actually a double helix made of two negatively charged phosphate-sugar backbones along which nucleic acids are bound. Ionic salts and DNA both readily dissociate in a polar solvent like water, but not as easily in ethanol or isopropanol.
- Therefore, the DNA pellets precipitate out of the solution when ethanol or isopropanol is added to a salty solution.
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