Pre-Lab Questions
- What are the three types of RNA found in a cell?
- What will serve as the source of RNA during this lab?
- Why is RNA isolation such a difficult process?
- If you are successful extracting RNA, what banding pattern to you expect to see on the gel?
Analysis
- Why did you crush the rose bush leaf?
- What is the purpose of the Extraction Buffer?
- What is the purpose of the Precipitating Buffer?
- After adding the Extraction and Precipitating buffers, you centrifuged the sample. Did you save the pellet or supernatant? Why?
- What is the purpose of Ethanol?
- What is the purpose of the RNA Matrix?
- What is the purpose of the Wash I and Wash II buffers?
- After adding each of the wash buffers, you centrifuged the sample. Did you save the pellet or supernatant in each case? Why?
- What is the purpose of the Elution Buffer?
- After adding the Elution buffer, you centrifuged the sample. Did you save the pellet or supernatant? Why?
- Study this picture of a gel supplied by G-BioSciences. Explain the results.