DNA isolation from a dried blood sample, PCR amplification, and population analysis - Making the most of commercially available kits

A 3-week undergraduate molecular biology laboratory exercise combining commercially available kits is described. The laboratory involves DNA extraction from a human dried blood sample, amplification of an Alu-repeat sequence found on chromosome 8, and analysis of the genetic and allelic frequency in the class population using Hardy-Weinberg statistics. The use of the prepared kits provides a means for the instructor of an undergraduate biochemistry course to explore molecular biology techniques on a limited budget and with a minimal time investment.