How to Build a Model of DNA
Understanding the structure and role of DNA in living organisms is fundamental for the study of biology. Pipe cleaners and beads may be used to construct a model of DNA quickly and easily. The pipe cleaners allow a firm but flexible support to the model, with the beads representing various parts of the DNA structure, such as the deoxyribose-phosphate backbone and the attached bases. Such a model facilitates easier learning of how DNA functions as the code book for life.
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Things You'll Need
- Scissors (for cutting pipe cleaners)
- Pipe cleaners
- Small yellow beads
- Large black beads
- Medium yellow, red, green, and blue beads
Instructions
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1
Cut several pipe cleaners into one-inch sections. Keep two pipe cleaners whole.
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2
Slide a black bead over the end of each pipe cleaner. Fold the end of each pipe cleaner over the end of the bead and twist the end around itself to form a cap at the end of the pipe cleaner. Slide alternating small yellow beads representing phosphate groups and large black beads representing deoxyribose down each pipe cleaner.
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3
Attach the one-inch pieces of pipe cleaner beneath the black bead and above the yellow bead by twisting the end of the small piece of pipe cleaner around the long pipe cleaner.
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4
Slide the beads representing the base pairs over the small pieces of pipe cleaner, with red beads representing adenine, blue beads representing thymine, green beads representing cytosine, and yellow beads representing guanine. There should be two beads on each piece of pipe cleaner, red and blue or yellow and green, according to the base pairing in DNA, adenine to thymine and cytosine to guanine.
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5
Attach the remaining free end of the small pieces of pipe cleaner to the other piece of pipe cleaner above a small bead and below a black bead.
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6
Give a slight counter-clockwise twist to the DNA model.
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