Time Frame
1 class periods of 90 minutes each
Summary
Students will use paper models of DNA, RNA and amino acids to form a protein chain.
Materials
Instructional Procedures
- Gather the materials and decide how big the butcher paper can be. It will depend on the size of you tables or pushed together desks.
- Read the introduction with students and if you'd like, give them a piece of scratch paper and see how they do on "fold the paper twice". You will probably have many "mutations" in the class. Go over the instructions. This is a difficult activity and they will need to be cautioned to read the instructions again as they proceed.
- Students should cut out the DNA, tRNA-aminoacids pairs and the mRNA. They do not need to cut out the base pairs. They should tape the DNA and mRNA into strands of 27 base pairs.
- Assign students to groups of 3-4. Each group member should have a different DNA code. Give students time to label the two sides of their DNA.
- Help students draw the "cells" on the butcher paper. You may wish have them made ahead of time.
- When students are ready, they should place their DNA in the nucleus to make the mRNA then take it to the ribosomes to make the protein.
- Make an overhead of the correct sequence for each group. (see below) Have students check their work.
- Have the winners from each group stand and describe how they worked so quickly.
- Allow students time to finish the analysis questions and write their conclusions.
Bibliography
Lesson Design by Jordan School District Teachers and Staff.
Created: 12/04/2014
Updated: 02/03/2018
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