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Modeling DNA Lab

1) DNA contains the genetic information that controls the development of living things. It is found in chromosomes and has a double helix structure. 2) This investigation involves building a model of DNA using materials like cardboard, toothpicks, gumdrops and clay to represent the key components of DNA and understand how it can carry genetic information. 3) By constructing the model, students will learn that DNA has two strands that form the sides of the ladder-like structure. The rungs are made of paired bases that bond together according to their shapes.

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Mauricio Vega Montoya
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© © All Rights Reserved
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54 views

Modeling DNA Lab

1) DNA contains the genetic information that controls the development of living things. It is found in chromosomes and has a double helix structure. 2) This investigation involves building a model of DNA using materials like cardboard, toothpicks, gumdrops and clay to represent the key components of DNA and understand how it can carry genetic information. 3) By constructing the model, students will learn that DNA has two strands that form the sides of the ladder-like structure. The rungs are made of paired bases that bond together according to their shapes.

Uploaded by

Mauricio Vega Montoya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Laboratory Investigation

OPEN ENDED INQUIRY


Modeling DNA
DNA is found in the chromosomes of all living things. The structure of this molecule encodes the
genetic information that controls the development of each living thing. When scientists figured
out the structure of DNA, they built a model. The structure of this model helped them see how
DNA can carry information and be copied to make new DNA molecules. In this investigation,
you will examine the structure of DNA by building your own DNA model.

Skills Focus
Use Models

Materials
• 2 strips of cardboard, 38 cm  3 cm
• toothpicks
• tape
• colored gumdrops
• metric ruler
• crayons
• modeling clay
Pre-Lab Questions
1. Ask Questions What are some questions you would ask prior to starting this activity?

2. Use Models Which two molecules make up the “sides” of a DNA molecule?
3. Use Models When you construct your model of DNA, which materials will you use to
represent the sides of a DNA molecule?

4. Use Models Which molecules make up the “rungs” of a DNA molecule?

5. Use Models When you construct your model of DNA, which materials will you use to
represent the rungs of a DNA molecule? What will the toothpicks represent in your
model?

6. Apply Concepts Which bases pair together to form the rungs of a DNA molecule?
Procedure
1. Study the figure shown. It illustrates the shape of the DNA molecule. DNA is a
double helix. The two helices of the DNA molecule form what is often referred to as
a “twisted ladder” or double helix. The sides of the ladder are made up of alternating
sugar molecules and phosphate groups. The sugar is a 5-carbon deoxyribose sugar.
Each “rung” of the DNA ladder is made up of two nitrogen bases. Together, a sugar,
a phosphate group, and a base make up a nucleotide. A nucleotide is the basic unit of
DNA.

2. There are four nitrogenous bases: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and
thymine (T). In a DNA molecule, adenine usually bonds only with thymine. Cytosine
usually bonds only with guanine.

3. Make a model of the DNA ladder. Choose two colored crayons and color the
cardboard strips with alternating colored boxes. Use one color to represent the sugar
molecules and label those boxes S. Use the other color for the phosphate groups.
Label those boxes P.

4. To make the rungs of the ladder, choose four different-colored gumdrops. Each color
will represent a particular nitrogen base. For example, a green gumdrop might
represent an adenine base. A red gumdrop might represent a guanine base. Be sure to
make a key to explain which color represents which nitrogen base.

5. Stick each gumdrop onto a toothpick. Determine which nitrogen base gumdrops can
be bonded together. Then join the correct gumdrops together by placing a toothpick
between them.

6. Attach the nitrogen base rungs to the ladder by taping the free toothpick ends to the
sugar bases.
7. Continue to add correctly paired nitrogen base gumdrop rungs to the sugar units of
the ladder.

8. When your ladder is completed, you might want to stand it up by inserting the two
strips into mounds of modeling clay.

Analyze and Conclude


1. Predict Given the following bases, predict to which base each would be bonded.

2. Evaluate Models How does the model you constructed differ from an actual DNA
molecule?

3. Infer If you changed the base on one side of the DNA molecule, what should you do
to the base on the other side of the molecule? Explain your answer.

4. Draw Conclusions When DNA is replicated, or copied, the ladder splits as the bases
separate. New units are added to each half of the DNA molecule. How does this
create two identical molecules of DNA?
5. Apply Concepts What does this activity tell you about the components that make up
the genetic code of organisms?

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