Why does DNA, NOT denature in phenol?

Subject: Why does DNA, NOT denature in phenol?

Date: Wed Jan 24 22:56:39 2007
Posted by Matilda
Grade level: undergrad School: No school entered.
City: No city entered. State/Province: No state entered. Country: No country entered.
Area of science: Molecular Biology
ID: 1169704599.Mb

Message:


I understand that DNA is polar with its negative phosphate groups and its 
ability to hydrogen bond with water. But it does have hydrophobic bases stacked 
away so that the bases dont have to face water. So when DNA is put into phenol 
why does it not unwind so that its organic bases dissolve into the organic 
phenol? According to the second law of thermodynamics the loss of order or 
entropy is favored in systems right?

Re: Why does DNA, NOT denature in phenol?

Current Queue | Current Queue for Molecular Biology | Molecular Biology archives

Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on Molecular Biology.