How can I make a DNA Model?! HELP?
DNA Model Specifications – 4 grades for 3rd grading period due the latest before Spring Break. Any handed in later will lose points and grade value.
(2 person Maximum/group)
1-Maximum height 24 inches unless previously authorized by Dr. Glatzer.
2-6 nucelotide minimum (the DNA building unit)
3-The nitrogenous base pairs are as follows:
Adenine (A) pairs up with Thymine (T)
Guanine (G) pairs with Cytosine (C))
4-No edible food products. This type material gets moldy and attracts
critters (roaches, etc).
5-Suggestions for parts that are strong are those made of wooden (beads), or plastic or light metals.
6-Avoid materials like clay or Playdough which are too soft and heavy to hold together well. They fall apart quickly and very easily.
7-All parts must be COLOR CODED with a COLOR KEY for each part.
8-Creativity and sturdiness are a big part of the grade. Your project must be able to stand securely with good self-support. Some kind of a frame or strong center pole as in a spiral staircase works well.
9-Purchased model kits will not be given a good grade because of the lack of creativity and effort to create something original.
10 Think of the double helix of DNA as a rope ladder that is twisted like a spiral staircase. The rope part is the Sugar-Phosphate “backbone” and the steps are the pairs of nitrogen bases. (A-T or G-C)
TRY THESE
From candy…
From paper & tape …
From styrofoam balls…
Using origami…
From paper and toothpicks …
From jewelry & beads…
Fron pipe cleaners & fishing line…
All these sites have full instructions. Good luck
I suggest you first make a list of the different components you need so that you can locate an adequate number of different colors when you purchase materials.
If you use pipe cleaners or stiff wire for the framework of the double helix, you could then string beads on the wire and twist the sections together. You might even find different shapes of beads that simulate the structure as it is depicted in many textbooks. You can twist the model before attaching it to a base.
This link has several pictures to give you ideas.
Another way to show structural parts such as the bases, would be to cut shapes from flexible foam sheets and glue them to the wire frame. This link shows shapes sometimes used for DNA that would be easy to cut out.
what you sould do is stop eating monkeys and then