Extraction of DNA from soil using nanoparticles by magnetic bioseparation.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: To develop a simple, rapid and inexpensive soil DNA extraction protocol. METHODS AND RESULTS: The protocol relies on the use of superparamagnetic silica-magnetite nanoparticles for the isolation and purification of DNA from soil samples. DNA suitable for use in molecular biology applications was obtained from a number of soil samples. CONCLUSIONS: The DNA extracted using the tested method successfully permitted the PCR amplification of a fragment of the bacterial 16S rDNA gene. The extracted DNA could also be restriction endonuclease digested. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY The protocol reported here is simple and permits rapid isolation of PCR-ready soil DNA. The method requires only small quantities of soil sample, is scalable and suitable for automation.