Kathryn Campbell

Did you know that microwaving to burst open cells can be a useful method of DNA extraction, especially for cheap, rapid, and high-throughput workflows? It can be used as a step within the extraction process to improve cell lysis, and also as the main cell lysis process to produce a crude DNA extract for PCR. An early example was published by Goodwin & Lee (1993), and was used on a wide range of taxa across different kingdoms of life: ⭐Goodwin & Lee (1993). Microwave miniprep of total genomic DNA from fungi, plants, protists and animals for PCR. Biotechniques, 15(3), 438-441. buff.ly/3UJf1IJ Since then, researchers have regularly published variations or instances of this method for specific applications. Below are a few examples 👇 ⭐DNA extraction from human samples (saliva, blood, semen) for forensics: Taglia et al. (2022). Development of a microwave-based extraction for forensic biological samples. Forensic Science International: Synergy, 5, 100291. buff.ly/3UGJcjY ⭐High throughput DNA extraction from barley seeds for genotyping, using microwaving in an alkaline buffer followed by neutralisation with a Tris-HCl buffer, allowing processing of thousands of seeds per day: Von Post et al. (2003). A high-throughput DNA extraction method for barley seed. Euphytica, 130, 255-260. buff.ly/40DZj5C ⭐Microwaving dry fungal spores to pop them open prior to direct PCR: Ferreira et al. (1996). PCR from fungal spores after microwave treatment. Fungal Genetics Reports, 43(1), 25-26. buff.ly/3UCKgFu ⭐Microwaving ground mosquitos, in which it was found to produce comparable results to much more time-consuming extraction methods: Firmansyah et al. (2023). Comparison of 3 DNA extraction methods for extracting DNA from an adult Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae). Journal of Insect Science, 23(5), 15. buff.ly/40DZjCE Image shows a microwave oven, CC BY-SA Mk2010, buff.ly/2K169f4 Do you use microwaving as part of your DNA extractions? If you do, we'd love to hear about how it works for you!