Extracting DNA from the Bacterium Escherichia coli Introduction Deoxyribonucleic acid is contained in all cells. The structure of DNA makes gene transmission possible. Since genes are segments of DNA, DNA must be able to make exact copies of itself to enable the next generation of cells to receive the same genes. The DNA molecule looks like a twisted ladder. Each "side" is a chain of alternating phosphate and deoxyribose sugar molecules. The "steps" are formed …showed first 75 words of 1141 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1141 total…stringy, and there also was a considerable mass of DNA for so small of a sampling of bacteria. Thus proving, that there is a great quantity of DNA in E.coli cells. It had great assymetry. Its length was tremendous compared to its width. The length of the DNA molecule makes it very susceptible to splitting. The DNA fibers can be fractured very easily, and because of its length, solutions ! of DNA are noticeable viscous.