Can I do DNA precipitation with ethanol?

Yes, DNA precipitation can be performed using ethanol. The basic steps involved in DNA isolation are:

• Lysis
• Precipitation of DNA
• Purification.

Ethanol precipitation is a commonly used method for concentrating and desalting DNA. During the process, DNA is precipitated into a visible cotton thread like matter. This process is important as it removes impurities during the isolation process.

DNA is soluble in water. Salt and ethanol are added to make them precipitate. The commonly used salt is sodium acetate. The Na⁺ ions formed from sodium would neutralize the PO₄^3- backbone of DNA. Ethanol, which has lower dielectric constant would help in the interaction of Na⁺ and PO₄^3-, making DNA less hydrophilic, which results in the precipitation of DNA.