Worksheet has space for pasting the completed model and a few questions regarding the basepair rule, and the composition of a nucleotide. Cas9 always cleaves both strands of the dna three nucleotides upstream toward the 5 end of the pam sequence. Examine the detailed diagram of the dna model below. Dna structure dry lab is a cut n paste activity in which students build models of dna and then answer 10 general questions about. Allow student approximately 30 minutes to build their model. These representations include closely packed spheres cpk models made of plastic, metal. Assume that a 100base pair dna double helix contains 45 cytosines. In experimental group n21 cut and paste paper models exercise, in control. Colorful double helix, a geneius activity stem activity. Dna model activity background deoxyribonucleic acid, or dna, carries the hereditary information.
Modeling radiationdamaged dna in activity ii, students will use candy or styrofoam balls to construct a model of deoxyribonucleic acid dna and will then. Students will use their knowledge on the structure of dna to build a 3dmodel out of a variety of materials. Once they have constructed the model both ways inaccessible dna and accessible dna, have students portray the dynamic nature of the genomes physical. Activity students learn about dna nucleotides, base paring, and super. The ladder model can help us visualize how the components. Adenine a red thymine t green guanine g blue cytosine c yellow phosphate p brown deoxyribose d purple 2 cut out each structure. The simplest form used to represent dna deoxyribonucleic acid is a ladder shape. Molecular models of dna structures are representations of the molecular geometry and topology of deoxyribonucleic acid molecules using one of several means, with the aim of simplifying and presenting the essential, physical and chemical, properties of dna molecular structures either in vivo or in vitro. Students should remember the function of genes and their location on the dna helix. Dna model activity d deoxyribo n nucleic a acid dna contains the information for carrying out all of the activities of a cell. Dna is a simple molecule made up of four types of chemical building blocks called.
Hands on group work paper model for teaching dna structure. To show how the component parts of the dna molecule fit together to make a ladder shape. Building a candy dna model with my 8yearold son allowed us to explore and talk about some basic biology of living organisms such as ourselves while we used our hands to build with. Use the tabs to connect several models to make longer strands. Students color each nucleotide and paste them in an antiparallel orientation. Tell students to follow the instructions to build their own model of dna. Lesson plan dna structure dolan dna learning center. This activity brings to life the double helix structure of dna. Student teams trade dna strands and decode the genetic sequences to determine the physical characteristics. Discuss how methylation and acetylation would affect the expression of the gene. Although the pairs formed between the nucleotide bases in dna are very specific a with t and g with c there is no restriction to the order in which the bases are arranged on a particular. You will find student instructions, a grading rubric, postactivity questions, a.
A cells genetic material dna must be replicated or copied in anticipation of cell division. The model now represents the helical structure of dna. Your teacher may instruct you to take your model and attach all the dna models together to make a longer strand of dna. Students will act out the process of transcription and translation using a physical model to help build a kinesthetic and visual memory of protein synthesis.
Both models represent the major components of a strand dna. Suppose you know that the sequence of bases in one dna strand is agctcag. Rcsb pdbs intern nicole brennan demonstrates her origami skills to build a 3d paper model of dna. Just like a ladder, a dna strand has two rails running parallel to each other and rungs that connect the rails. Doublestranded dna is composed of two antiparallel strands. Watson and crick model of dna provides one of the best ways to demonstrate the structure of double helix dna. Dna account for chargaffs discoveries of equimolarity between the nucleotides. Write your name in dna activity description the children will create a colorful chain made out of the four dna nucleotides, while learning about dna and how all the information about each and every one of us in encoded into this simple language. Once students have completed part 1, construction of the dna model, please collect the.
Page 1 of 5 activity educator materials modeling the structure of dna overview in this activity, students build a paper model of dna and use their model to explore key structural features of the. Note the difference in groove width and the relative displacements of the base pairs from the central axis. Making a model of dna 5 construct the right side of your dna molecule by putting together in sequence a cytosine, thymine, guanine and adenine nucleotide. Something old, something new an overview of the process. A dna is a polymer which is composed by the combination of several monomer units refers as deoxyribo nucleotides linked by the phosphodiester bond. One is a full colour version showing how the dna bases pair together. Build a paper model of dna fill in the names of the bases on the model shown to the right, or use the detailed model that shows all the atoms in each nucleotide back side of paper. In this activity, you will build your own model to understand how dna works. There is also a blank version where you can colour in the complementary bases yourself. All of these features were described by watson and crick. Flow of genetic information kit dna replication continued. This simple activity asks students to cut out shapes of nucleotides, each having a phosphate, a base, and a deoxyribose sugar. Although the chemical composition of dna was known in the 1920s, its structure was not determined until the 1950s.
Dna, relatedness, genetics learning objectives all livings things have dna. Making a model of dna is a great way to learn about how this magnificent structure builds our genes and determines our genetic makeup. Karen mayes page 1 of 3 dna paper model activity level. Dna model paper project dna model, dna, biology classroom. Students build an edible model of dna while learning basic dna structure and the rules of base pairing. When each group has finished their construction, assess each model by checking the bases and their complementary pairs. How this information is coded or passed from cell to cell was at one time unknown. Students will construct a dna model, describe the structure and function of dna, sequence the steps involved in dna replication, and plan and design a model of dna. Make a model dna strand summary a strand of dna looks like a ladder that has been twisted into a corkscrew. Although each human has a unique dna sequence, the dna in all of us is about 99. Dna is a special molecule in your body that contains all the information about your body the color of your hair and eyes for examples.
Pull the model open, and pop out the backbones on the sides. This lesson should be done after a lesson on the structure and function of cells. In this activity, you will make a model for a short section of dnaenough to get a sense of what dna is like and how it encodes life. Dna replication model activity background information. This lab activity corresponds to cibts dna molecule model. This activity and handout were adapted from the university. Activity making a model of dna 1 colour the individual structures as follows. Dna model building and replication activity please do not. To create the second strand of the model, you linked nitrogenous bases that were complementary to each other. Predict the appearance of a complimentary strand of dna when given half of a double.
Page 8 of 9 analysis questions use your dna model to answer the following questions. Candy dna model for edible science and kids biology. They will use an encoder to translate from the english alphabet into codons to write their. This is a handson activity that students will surely enjoy. Through this fun activity you can learn more about the spread of microbes and their potential to infect people. To model how cas9 cleaves the dna, use scissors to cut target dna. Dna structure dry lab is a cut n paste activity in which students build models of dna and then answer 10 general questions about the structure of dna. Students can use the dna message maker to create the dna sequence which would code for their initials or 3letter name or nickname, then use that code to build dna jewelry earrings, etc. Read the molecule of the month on dna download additional copies of this model, and watch a video. Dna contains heritable instructions for building and maintaining an organism.
Dna models can be constructed from almost anything including candy, paper, and even jewelry. Dna molecule activity genetics high school molecular biology. The information in dna is not directly converted into proteins, but must first be copied into rna in a process called transcription. Follow this activity with the reading dna activity see additional resources. Once the guide rna binds to the dna, it activates the nuclease activity dnacutting ability of the cas9 enzyme. In the discovery of dna, many scientists have explicated the structure of dna, its components and composition etc. Pass out copies of the candy dna student activity sheet.
Its orientation, width, width between nucleotides, length and number of nucleotides per helical turn is constant. Adenine is always opposite thymine, and cytosine is always oppostie guanine. Building a paper model of crisprcas9 activity student. Figure 2 is an overview of the transcription translation process. Dna, rna, and protein synthesis exploration activity. To model a nucleotide a monomer of dna, tape together a phosphate a sugar, and a guanine moleculeg. Analyze the model to see what each of the components represents. Method and materials the sample for this study consisted of 42 students in biology department of buca faculty of education cited in dokuz eylul university in izmir. Dna is a fairly advanced topic, but there are some simple facts about dna you can share with your early elementary school age kids. The two sugarphosphate backbones run in opposite 5 3 directions from each other. Identify which bases are found in pairs in the dna doublehelix. You should see that the dna looks like a spiral staircase. It is important to keep this directionality in mind as you model the process of dna replication.
Dna structurefunction introductory lesson objectives. To break the code, you will do a paper lab to determine the structure of dna and show how the genetic code is carried. The focus of this lesson is on the mechanisms that copy and translate the genetic information into proteins. The new cells that form after cell divide must be completely alike and have exactly the same amount of dna to function normally. Because histone acetylation and dna methylation are driven by constant cell signals, the physical structure of the genome is dynamic. When dna is taken out of the cell and stretched out, it looks like a twisted ladder. Dna molecule activity cornell institute for biology teachers.
Pdb101 is the educational portal of rcsb protein data bank. Dna is made up of sugars and phosphates 1 x research source that control the color of our eyes, our height, and so much more. All dna pieces are included, complete with teacher tips and an answer key. Now, using both your completed dna model and the toober model, determine the parts that make up the sides of the double helix. Biology lesson plans, labs, activities, experiments, and projects for high school life science teachers. Students will need their dna sequence to create their model. Dna controls cellular activity by coding for the production of enzymes and proteins.
Debate current and potential issues in genetics and genomics with this cardbased discussion activity. Hands on group work paper model for teaching dna structure, central dogma and recombinant dna 21 2. Recognize that we look like biological family members because dna is. Now, using both your completed dna model and the toober model. Just like a cookbook contains a complete recipe for a dish, dna stores the recipe for the life of an organism. Step into the shoes of a genetic scientist and carry out a phenotype.