Have Your DNA and Eat It Too!

(adapted from http://teach.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/dna/eat_DNA.html)

When isolated from a cell and stretched out, DNA looks like a twisted ladder. This shape is called a double helix. The sides of the DNA ladder are called the backbone and the rungs (steps) of the ladder are pairs of small chemicals called bases. There are four types of chemical bases in DNA: Adenine (A), Cytosine (C), Guanine (G), and Thymine (T). They form pairs in very specific ways: Adenine (A) always pairs with Thymine (T) Cytosine (C) always pairs with Guanine (G).

Your task is to construct an accurate edible model of DNA that contains a specific genetic code.
Step 1: Once you receive your genetic code you will need to find the other person in the class whose code matches yours. For example: ATGC would match with TACG Step 2: Assemble one side of your DNA molecule. A piece of licorice will form the backbone and marshmallows will be the chemical bases. Place a marshmallow on the end of a toothpick so that the point of the toothpick goes all the way through. Anchor the toothpick into the licorice backbone. You must use the correct colour of marshmallow to represent each base. Step 3: Match the chemical base pairs. Place the color marshmallow for the matching chemical base on the other end of each toothpick. Remember that A always pairs with T and C always pairs with G!

Step 4: Complete your DNA model. Attach the other backbone so your model looks like a ladder. Step 5: Twist your DNA model. Carefully twist your DNA molecule so that it looks like a double helix.

Step 6: Explain and share your model. Using one of the tools below you must now explain and share your model by answering the following questions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Where can DNA be found? What is the function of DNA? (its purpose) What are the chemicals that DNA is made of? (sides and rungs of the ladder) What structure does DNA have? Describe what genetic code means.

Tools you can use: Voicethread: Take pictures of your Video: Create a video of you model and then record your voice explaining your model. Email to or use text to explain it. Share debbieharris@pwsd76.ab.ca. with debbieharris@pwsd76.ab.ca. Twitter: Tweet a picture of your model and use text to explain it. Be sure to include @dmeharris in each post. Tumblr: Post pictures or video to Tumblr, use text to explain your model. Email the link to debbieharris@pwsd76.ab.ca. Instagram: Take pictures and post to Instagram with an explanation of the model. Be sure to include @dmeharris in each post.

OTHER TOOLS? Get approval first.

AAGCTTCGATCCGGTA GGATCCTAGCTTAACG ATTACGGGCCTAACGT CGGCATTTAAGCCATG AAGCTTCGCCTATAGC GGATCCTATTCGCGAA ATTACGGGTTAACCCG CGGCATTTCGGCAATA AAGCTTCGTTCGCGAA GGATCCTACCTATAGC

TTCGAAGCTAGGCCAT CCTAGGATCGAATTGC TAATGCCCGGATTGCA GCCGTAAATTCGGTAC TTCGAAGCGGATATCG CCTAGGATAAGCGCTT TAATGCCCAATTGGGC GCCGTAAAGCCGTTAT TTCGAAGCAAGCGCTT CCTAGGATGGATATCG

ATTACGGGCGGCAATA TAATGCCCGCCGTTAT CGGCATTTTTAACCCG AAGCTTCGGCTTAACG GCCGTAAAAATTGGGC TTCGAAGCCGAATTGC