Question

What is the role of lysis solution and heating the onion cell in a water bath for DNA extraction?

Answer 1

Hint: DNA extraction is the isolation of DNA from a biological cell. It was first performed by Fredric Miescher in the year 1869.

Complete answer:
A lysis solution is a buffer solution that serves the purpose of breaking open cells in experiments like DNA extraction. Lysis solutions are made up of buffer salts and ionic salts. These salts regulate the pH and osmolarity of the lysate. The buffer in the lysis solution creates an isolated environment for the components of the cells that have been lysed. A lysis solution usually contains more than one salt. The salts present in the lysis solution develop ionic strength in the solution. Detergents are organic amphipathic compounds that are used to separate the membrane proteins from the cell membrane.

Heating of the onion cells in a water bath helps denature the proteins on the cell membrane. Heating helps in the extraction of DNA from specific spots on the onion cells. Heating of the onion cells also helps in accelerating the rate of the reaction of the lysis solution as the membrane proteins get denatured. It also helps in the deactivation of enzymatic reaction inhibitors.

Note:
A lysate is a fluid containing the contents of a cell that has been lysed. Detergents are sometimes utilized to break apart the structure of the cell membrane.
DNA extraction is a routine process in molecular biology and forensic analysis.