Question

What is the function of ethanol in the DNA extraction?

Answer 1

used technique to purify or concentrate nucleic acids. This is accomplished by adding saltand ethanol to a solution containing DNA or RNA. In the presence of salt (in particular, monovalent cations such as sodium ions (Na+)), ethanol efficiently precipitates nucleic acids.



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Answer 2

Ethanol is typically used with a salt for nucleic acid extraction. The positively charged ion (Na+) from the salt interacts with the negatively charged phosphate groups of nucleic acids. However, this interaction is electrostatically blocked by water and the nucleic acids will easily hydrogen bond with water (hence, nucleic acids are soluble in water. Ethanol on the other hand allows the positively charged anion to interact with the negatively charged phosphate groups. This interaction shields the charges of both ions, and now they can no longer hydrogen bond with ethanol molecules. Thus, this salt formation precipitates out of the ethanol solution.