We are the plant physiology class at Central Michigan University and for an independent research project we decided to study the DNA of skunk cabbage. The class decided on looking at skunk cabbage after we were invited to attend a seminar that had a speaker that was doing research on skunk cabbage. From our class discussions and some prior knowledge of the plant we decided to compare the DNA of different skunk cabbage individuals. Using our laboratory period we learned how to extract the DNA from the skunk cabbage, perform PCR on the DNA, run the DNA in gels, and finally score the gels. With the help of our professor, Dr. Joanne Dannenhoffer, and Kelly McCann we were able to get our project on the ground and finished.
Flowering skunk cabbage from Wexford County