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Building DNA

building DNA activity high school biology

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51 views3 pages

Building DNA

building DNA activity high school biology

Uploaded by

kstgeorge
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Teacher Guide: Building DNA

Learning Objectives
Students will…
• Build a molecule of DNA from a set of components.
• Observe how nitrogenous bases bond to form the central “rungs” of the DNA molecule.
• Explain how DNA replication occurs.
• Describe the roles of DNA helicase and DNA polymerase in replication.
• Observe that the result of DNA replication is two identical molecules of DNA.

Vocabulary
double helix, DNA, DNA helicase, DNA polymerase, enzyme, mutation, nitrogenous base,
nucleotide, replication

Lesson Overview
The double-helix structure of a DNA molecule is one of the
greatest wonders of the natural world. The rungs of this
twisted ladder contain a set of instructions for building any
living thing on Earth. The DNA molecule can be split apart,
with the strands used as templates to build two daughter
DNA molecules, each identical to the original. This process,
called DNA replication, is the basis of reproduction for all
living things.

With the Building DNA Gizmo, students build and then


replicate a DNA molecule. Over 2,500 distinct DNA
molecules can be built using the Gizmo.

The Student Exploration sheet contains two activities:


• Activity A – Students build a DNA molecule and observe how nitrogenous bases bond.
• Activity B – Students go through the process of DNA replication.

Suggested Lesson Sequence

1. Pre-Gizmo activity ( 5 – 10 minutes)


Have students examine an image of the DNA molecule. Explain that the DNA molecule
encodes genetic information, and that when a cell divides, an identical set of DNA must
be passed down to each daughter cell. Discuss the following questions:
• Where in the DNA molecule do you think the genetic information is stored?
• How do you think the DNA molecule makes a copy of itself?

2. Prior to using the Gizmo ( 10 – 15 minutes)


Before students are at the computers, pass out the Student Exploration sheets and ask
students to complete the Prior Knowledge Questions. Discuss student answers as a

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class, but do not provide correct answers at this point. Afterwards, if possible, use a
projector to introduce the Gizmo and demonstrate its basic operations. Demonstrate how
to take a screenshot and paste the image into a blank document.

3. Gizmo activities ( 15 – 20 minutes per activity)


Assign students to computers. Students can work individually or in small groups. Ask
students to work through the activities in the Student Exploration using the Gizmo.
Alternatively, you can use a projector and do the Exploration as a teacher-led activity.

4. Discussion questions ( 15 – 30 minutes)


As students are working or just after they are done, discuss the following questions:
• Which two components make up the “sides” of a DNA molecule?
• What molecules make up the central “rungs” of the DNA molecule?
• What pairs of nitrogenous bases can be found in a DNA molecule?
• What sequence of nitrogenous bases would you find opposite the following:
A A G C G T C T C? [Answer: T T C G C A G A G]
• What are the steps in DNA replication?
• Most mutations (errors in DNA synthesis) occur during DNA replication. What are
some of the kinds of mutations that you can imagine happening?

5. Follow-up activity: Pipe-cleaner DNA ( 30 – 60 minutes)


Your students can build realistic DNA molecules with pipe cleaners (also called chenille
stems, available in craft stores), masking tape, and stickers (optional). Use red pipe
cleaners for adenine, green for thymine, blue for guanine, and yellow for cytosine.

First, lay out two 50-cm strips of masking


tape, with the sticky side up. Tape the ends
of each strip to the table so they remain flat.
The strips should be parallel and about 12
cm (5 inches) apart. Fold all of the green
and yellow pipe-cleaner segments in half,
forming loops. Leave all of the blue and red
segments straight for now.

Build a DNA molecule by laying out the


pipe-cleaner segments so they overlap half
of the tape, as shown. Be sure to lay out complementary pairs of nitrogenous bases:
blue/yellow and red/green. Join each pair by folding the end of the straight segment into
a hook around the loop. Fold the tape lengthwise to secure the pipe cleaners. If you like,
you can finish each model with stickers to represent the phosphate and deoxyribose
components. Student models can be linked together and twisted into a long double helix.

To model DNA replication, first unhook the base pairs to form two separate strands.
Attach new bases to each strand, and join these bases together with tape to form
complementary strands. At this point you will have two DNA molecules, each identical to
the original. The same models can be used to illustrate mutations and protein synthesis.
(See the Selected Web Resources for a link to the RNA and Protein Synthesis Gizmo.)

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Scientific Background
DNA is an abbreviation for deoxyribonucleic acid. The DNA molecule has the shape of a double
helix—a structure that can be described as a “twisted ladder.” The sides of the ladder consist of
alternating deoxyribose molecules (C5H10O4) and phosphate groups (PO4). The “rungs” of the
ladder encode genetic information. Each rung consists of a pair of nitrogenous bases, A-T
(adenine-thymine) or G-C (guanine-cytosine). Adenine and guanine are larger molecules,
known as purines. Thymine and cytosine are called pyrimidines. Each purine-pyrimidine pair is
joined by hydrogen bonds.

Segments of DNA, called genes, encode genetic information in many ways. Some genes are
instructions for building specific proteins. In these genes, each sequence of three bases codes
for a specific amino acid. The long chain of amino acids specified by the gene will fold itself into
a protein. Other genes serve a regulatory function, helping to “turn on” or “turn off” the protein-
making genes. Other segments of DNA appear to have no function at all.

DNA replication occurs with the help of several enzymes. First, DNA helicase breaks the
hydrogen bonds that hold the two strands of DNA together. On one of the resulting strands,
DNA polymerase adds new complementary bases in a continuous sequence to form the leading
strand. On the other strand, new bases are added in the opposite direction, forming short
segments called Okazaki fragments. The Okazaki fragments are then joined together to form
the lagging strand. Other enzymes and helper molecules—DNA primase, DNA ligase, and RNA
primers—are involved in this complex process, illustrated below.

Selected Web Resources


DNA history: https://www.lunadna.com/history-of-dna/
DNA resources, history, and lesson plans: http://www.dnaftb.org/
DNA replication videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_-jSoSaaTA,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Hk9jct2ozY
Pipe cleaner DNA model: https://www.nsta.org/resources/idea-bank-pipe-cleaner-dna,
https://www.palebluemarbles.com/build-a-dna-model-with-pipe-cleaners/
RNA and Protein Synthesis Gizmo: http://www.explorelearning.com/gizmo/id?442
DNA Fingerprint Analysis Gizmo: http://www.explorelearning.com/gizmo/id?406
DNA Profiling Gizmo: http://www.explorelearning.com/gizmo/id?1092

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