The correct explanation of how the combination of salt, soap, and alcohol works together to extract DNA is:
Soap breaks membranes, and salt and alcohol help DNA clump together.
Here's a brief overview of how they work together during DNA extraction:
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Soap (or detergent) breaks down cell membranes, which are made of lipids, allowing the cellular components (including DNA) to be released into the solution.
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Salt helps to stabilize the DNA and neutralize the negative charge on its phosphate backbone, which allows the DNA strands to come together and clump.
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Alcohol (often ethanol or isopropanol) is less polar than water, and when added, it causes the DNA to precipitate out of the solution, making it visible as a cloudy substance that can be spooled out.
This combination effectively isolates and allows for the extraction of DNA from cellular material.