Splitting the Pea

Jane takes a chemistry lab class once a week and last week she casually informed me that they had extracted DNA from split peas in class.

Me: Bwah?

Jane: Yep, with a blender.

Me: …

She told me how it worked and it sounded extremely cool and I asked for the directions. She found the experiment written up here, at the University of Utah's Genetic Science Learning Center (but warned me, as I shall now warn you, that the background color is an assault on the eyes).

What you need:

Salt

Water

A small glass

A long toothpick or wooden stick

Detergent

A DNA source (split peas)

Contact lens solution

A blender

A measuring container

Rubbing alcohol

A test tube (optional)

Click through for instructions.