No, salt does not remove DNA; instead, it plays a crucial role in DNA extraction. Salt helps in the process of isolating DNA from cells.
How Salt Aids in DNA Extraction
The negative charges on the DNA molecule are neutralized by the positive ions (cations) in salt (such as sodium ions in NaCl). This neutralization reduces the DNA's solubility in water, causing it to clump together and precipitate out of solution. This clumping makes it easier to separate the DNA from other cellular components.
Several resources confirm this:
- BYJU'S NEET states that salt "helps in neutralizing DNA molecules," making them less soluble in water. https://byjus.com/question-answer/why-salt-is-used-in-dna-extraction/
- The Promega guide on DNA purification notes that wash buffers, often containing alcohol, are used to remove contaminants like salts, not the DNA itself. https://worldwide.promega.com/resources/guides/nucleic-acid-analysis/dna-purification/
- Many DNA extraction protocols, such as the one outlined on Learn.Genetics, include salt as a crucial ingredient in the extraction buffer. https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/labs/extraction/howto/
In short, salt is essential for DNA extraction, facilitating the precipitation and separation of DNA, not its removal.
The process of DNA extraction often involves subsequent steps to further purify the DNA, removing other cellular materials along with excess salts.
