How to Make a DNA Molecule Model

Make a DNA model

Deoxyribonucleic acid is the molecule that contains all the information that determines everything about you. The chemical composition of the double helix was discovered in 1869 by Friedrich Miescher. The frames are composed of sugar followed by phosphate molecules. The cross pieces comprise adenine, thymine, guanine and cytosine. The genetics of how these chemicals fall and how your particular code is aligned dictates who and what you are.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• 2 white 12-inch pipe cleaners
• 2 colored 12-inch pipe cleaners
• 12 colored (your choice) beads to represent adenine
• 12 colored (your choice) beads to represent thymine
• 6 colored (your choice) beads to represent guanine
• 6 colored (your choice) beads to represent cytosine
• Scissors
• Ruler

1. Cut the white pipe cleaners into 2-inch sections.

2. Thread the beads onto one 2-inch pipe cleaner section. The bases of adenine and thymine come in pairs, so use two beads of each color representing them. Repeat this five times to make six 2-inch sections.

3. Thread the six sections of pipe cleaners with the colors for guanine and cytosine. Two beads for guanine and one bead for cytosine go on each section.

4. Connect the white pipe cleaner sections with the beads on them to the color pipe cleaners by twisting the edges of each around the colored pipe cleaners.

5. Twist the color pipe cleaners in the fashion you desire to form the double helix.

Tips & Warnings

• Feel free to mix up the way you thread the colors onto the pipe cleaners. This indicates the variable ways your own DNA is different from another.

• Be careful not to twist the color pipe cleaners too far when forming the double helix.

Resources

• Diagrams and pictures for your DNA model
• Learn Genetics: Online DNA model
• CSIRO: Information on DNA
• Worsley School: DNA Model