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Article: Purification of DNA
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- Genetics
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CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Purification of DNA
Many procedures in molecular biology require an initial pure sample of DNA. These procedures include the polymerase chain reaction, sequencing, gene cloning, blotting, and DNA profiling. Purification of DNA involves removing it and other constituents from the cell, separating it from the various other cell constituents, and protecting it from degradation by cellular
enzymes
. Isolation procedures must also be gentle enough that the long DNA strands are not sheared by mechanical stress.
DNA can be isolated from almost any cellular source. White blood cells and cheek cells taken directly from humans are most commonly used for diagnostic purposes, but skin, hair ...