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What Is TRIzol DNA Extraction? How Do We Get Pigeons’ DNA?

When working with genetic material like DNA, choosing the right extraction method is crucial. In this article, we will walk you through two key parts:

What is TRIzol DNA extraction and how is it used?
How do we extract pigeon DNA for testing—and why do we use an alternative method that’s faster and more practical?

Part 1: What Is TRIzol DNA Extraction?

What Is TRIzol?

TRIzol is a powerful reagent widely used in molecular biology. It’s a monophasic solution of phenol and guanidine isothiocyanate designed to simultaneously isolate RNA, DNA, and proteins from biological samples.

Originally developed for RNA extraction, TRIzol is also capable of extracting DNA from the same sample, making it useful for applications that require multiple types of biomolecules.

How Does TRIzol Work in DNA Extraction?

The general process of DNA extraction using TRIzol includes the following steps:

Step-by-Step Protocol:

Homogenization: Mix your sample (p.ej., tissue or cells) in TRIzol reagent.
Phase Separation: Add chloroform and centrifuge to separate the mixture into three layers:
- Upper aqueous phase (RNA)
- Interphase (DNA)
- Lower organic phase (protein)
DNA Precipitation: Add ethanol or isopropanol to the interphase to precipitate DNA.
Washing: Wash the DNA pellet with ethanol.
Dissolution: Re-dissolve the DNA in TE buffer or water for downstream applications.

Is TRIzol the Best DNA Extraction Method?

TRIzol is effective but not always the most convenient. While it provides high yields and allows for multiple extractions from one sample, it involves toxic chemicals (like phenol and chloroform) and requires multiple centrifugation steps, which makes it less suitable for routine or field work.

Other Common DNA Extraction Methods (Comparison)

Method	Reagents Required	Equipment	Pros	Cons
TRIzol	TRIzol, chloroform, ethanol	Centrifuge, fume hood	Extracts DNA/RNA/protein	Toxic, time-consuming
Silica Column Kit	Lysis buffer, ethanol, wash buffer	Centrifuge	Clean, easy to use	More expensive, requires fresh samples
Salt-Out Method	SDS, NaCl, ethanol	Centrifuge	Low cost, non-toxic	Longer protocol
Magnetic Beads	Magnetic beads, lysis & binding buffer	Magnetic rack	Fast, automation-friendly	High cost, requires setup
Alkaline Lysis (A/B buffer)	NaOH (Solution A), Tris-HCl (Solution B)	None or minimal	Fast, simple, low-cost	Lower purity compared to kits

Part 2: How Do We Get Pigeon DNA?

Our Preferred Method: A/B Buffer Lysis

At SENO Lab, we don’t use TRIzol for pigeon DNA extraction. Instead, we use a simple and efficient method called A/B buffer lysis.

This approach is:

✅ Quick – Extraction takes only 20–30 minutes
✅ Safe – No need for toxic chemicals
✅ Sample-friendly – Works with plumas y dried blood spots (DBS) on FTA cards

How Does A/B Buffer Lysis Work?

We use two key solutions:

Solution A: A mild alkaline solution (p.ej., NaOH-based) that breaks open cells
Solution B: A neutralizing buffer (p.ej., Tris-HCl) that stabilizes the DNA

Protocol Summary:

Place pigeon feather shaft or blood card punch into a tube
Add Solution A, incubate to lyse cells
Add Solution B to neutralize
Use directly in PCR, or store for later use

Why Use Feathers and Blood Cards?

Feathers:

Easy to collect with no bleeding
Good for quick, on-site sampling

Blood Cards (DBS):

Drops of blood dried on special filter paper
Easy to store, label, and mail
Ideal for long-distance or international shipment
DNA remains stable for weeks without refrigeration

This method makes it very practical for breeders, researchers, or veterinarians who need to submit samples from other regions or countries.

Final Thoughts

While TRIzol is powerful, it’s not always necessary or practical for pigeon DNA work. Our A/B buffer lysis method is simple, effective, and sample-friendly, allowing us to perform DNA testing quickly and accurately, even on feathers or blood cards shipped from afar.

🧬 Need your pigeons tested?

📦 Just mail us feathers or blood cards—
👩‍🔬 Let SENO Lab do the rest!

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