📓 Ned’s Notes: #12 – Strawberry DNA

I’m back. Ned’s the name, detecting is the game. But is it really a game? Not when DNA gets involved. This week, I’ve been elbow-deep in strawberries. Not for pie, though I’m not opposed. I decided to run my own strawberry DNA experiment. That’s right: strawberry DNA.

Here’s a fun fact you know already: DNA is in every living thing. Even the not-so-living anymore, like Susan from Pairs or Sherri from Mishaps. You’ll meet a few more of those dearly departed in upcoming cases. It will be fun! They’re each charming in their own weird ways.

I’ve always been fascinated by DNA. That’s one reason I try to stay close to Bob, our local crime scene tech. He’s a great source of knowledge, and occasional mayhem. You’ll officially meet him in Wrecks this fall, but spoiler alert: I’m not sure whose side he’s really on. Mine? Or the Chicago PD? That’s a mystery for another day—and another book.

What Is DNA, Anyway?

Deoxyribonucleic acid. Don’t worry, there won’t be a spelling test. Well, you know what it is. DNA is the blueprint for all life: plants, people, even Perry the primate. It holds the instructions for everything from eye color to questionable behavior.

The Strawberry DNA Experiment

There’s a simple experiment you can try at home to extract DNA from strawberries. Try it yourself with the video from the National Human Genome Research Institute. Unlike those car commercials where the driver hugs the edge of a cliff, this one’s safe. The hardest part? Finding cheesecloth. Seriously though, where can you buy that? I searched five stores. Maybe I should’ve brought my magnifying glass and utilized my detecting skills.

Watching those white DNA strands swirl in the glass? Totally worth it! I admired my work for a while. Then I called Bob to chat, and got more information from him than I expected. It turns out, that mystery monkey hair? Definitely Perry’s. Collected from the aquarium floor. Not exactly shocking, but hey—sometimes it’s the obvious clue that cracks the case.

Until next week,
—Ned

🔍 Crime Scene Tech Tip: Strawberries are juicy. But watching their DNA swirl like a mini tornado? Totally worth the mess.

The moment the strawberry spilled its secrets—DNA and all. Experiment done by Cristina Matta a.k.a Ned. Photo taken by ditto.

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