Rapid and direct method for extraction of RNA from soil

A rapid method for direct extraction of RNA from soil was developed. It is based on cell lysis by a bead beater procedure that optimizes extraction efficiency and minimizes shearing of RNA. The RNA was extracted from three very different soils and was free of DNA contamination. The extracted RNA was sufficiently pure to permit amplification by RT-PCR. Intact rRNA molecules of both prokaryotic and eukaryotic origin were extracted by this method and were of sufficient yield to visualize these molecules on agarose gels.