How to Make a DNA Model Using a Molecule Set
DNA stands for DeoxyriboNucleic Acid, which is the primary genetic material in humans. Normal DNA comes in a double-stranded helical structure that is actually quite aesthetically pleasing. The structure of DNA is quite repetitive, which makes it easier to construct molecular models; however, each repeating unit of DNA structure still requires a great deal of expertise and attention to build correctly.
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Instructions
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1
Sort out the molecules in your molecular model kit. Most of these kits use a particular color scheme in which joints of one color are carbon and joints of another color are oxygen. Make sure that you sort out your elements correctly; the joints in molecular model kits have a certain number of possible bonds based on molecule type, so switching two would ruin your model.
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Make your purine bases (cytosine and thymine) by connecting carbon molecules and nitrogen molecules in the appropriate ring pattern. You can use the image in the References section to make sure that each molecule is in the right place. Once you have completed the base ring structure, add the necessary methyl groups and oxygen molecules.
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3
Form a set of pyrimidine bases (adenine and guanine) by putting together the carbon/nitrogen double ring structure the same way that you did with the purines. Make sure that you use double bonds from your molecular model kit as necessary. Once you have completed the base double-ring structure, add an amine group to make adenine or an extra oxygen molecule to make guanine.
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4
Select a phosphate and four oxygen molecules from your kit and connect all four oxygens to the center of the phosphate to create the basis for your phosphate backbone. You will need one phosphate group for every DNA base, so you should probably make several of these.
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5
Use the remaining carbons in your molecular model set to make a set of deoxyriboses. Connect five carbons together in a ring to make the base of the sugar (deoxyribose) and then add the necessary oxygen or hydroxyl (-OH) groups. You will need one deoxyribose molecule for each phosphate.
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Connect your sugar and phosphate together. Start with a phosphate, and then place a deoxyribose molecule to its right so that the group with the extra carbon and the hydroxyl group points towards the phosphate. Use a connector to make a bond between the O on the phosphate group and the H on the sugar's hydroxyl group.
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Connect your sugar and DNA bases together. For purines, place your base to the right of the deoxyribose and connect one corner of the hexagonal ring structure to the hydroxyl group closest to the ring. For pyrimidines, do the same thing, but connect the deoxyribose molecule to the five-carbon ring instead. Once you have done this, you have one unit of DNA.
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Connect a deoxyribose sugar to the top oxygen on the phosphate group to start a new rung in the DNA ladder. You will attach a phosphate and a base to this sugar the same way that you just did in the above steps to extend your model.
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Use glue to secure your model to a base, or purchase a base made of Styrofoam and jab the bottom of your molecule into the foam base so that it stands upright.
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References
- Photo Credit dna image by Allyson Ricketts from Fotolia.com
