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Building DNA Gizmo

Explore DNA structure and replication with this interactive activity. Learn key terms like double helix, nucleotide, and mutation. Understand how DNA copies itself by breaking base pair bonds.

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    Name: Dale: 10/14/21 Student Exploration: Building DNA Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and prompts in the orange boxes. Vocabulary: double helix. DNA. enzyme, mutation, nitrogenous base, nucleoside, nucleotide, replication Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.) DNA is an incredible molecule that forms the basis of life on Earth. DNA molecules contain instructions for building every living organism on Earth, from the tiniesl bacterium to a massive blue whale. DNA also has lhe ability Io replicate, or make copies of itself. This allows living things to grow and reproduce. 1. Look al the DNA molecule shown at right. What does it look like? A figure 8 like shape and a double helix This shape is called a double helix 2. Based on this picture how do you think a DNA molecule makes a copy of itself? (Hint: Look at the bottom two "rungs" of lhe ladder.) By breaking the bonds that connect the linked bases Gizmo Warm-up The fid/j/ding DNA Gizmo allows you to construct a DNA molecule and go through the process of DNA replication Examine the components that make up a DNA molecule. 1. What are the Iwo DNA components shown in the Gizmo? deoxyribose and a nitrogenous base. 2. A nucleoside has two parts a pentagonal sugar (deoxyribose) and a nitrogenous base (in color). When a nucleoside is joined Io a phosphate, it is called a nucleotide How many different nitrogenous bases do you see? Note: The names of these nitrogenous bases are adenine (red), cytosine (yellow), guanine (blue), and thymine (green).

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    Get the Gizmo ready: • If necessary, click Reset Io start Ihe building process. □ sf a: B Activity A: Build a DMA molecule Question: What is the structure of DMA? Paste the image below, and label this image Original DNA molecule/ Lett side Righl side 1. Build Follow the steps given in the Gizmo to construct a molecule of ON A. (Note: For simplicity . this DNA molecule is shown in Iwo dimensions, without Ihe twist.) Stop when the hinI reads: "The DNA molecule is complete." In the spaces at right, lisl the sequence of nitrogenous bases on the left-hand side of the DNA molecule 3 u j and Ihe righl-h and i side. 3 .? - T l i t T 2. Take a picture: Click the camera ( O ) Io take a snapshot of your DNA molecule Right-click the image and select Copy Image A T C G A T C G T A G C 3. Explain Describe the structure of the DNA molecule you made. A. What makes up the sides of the DNA molecule? phosphates and deoxyribose sugar B. Whal makes up the "rungs" of the DNA molecule? pairs of nitrogenous bases 4. Fill in: Write the name of the nitrogenous base th al joins Io each of Ihe bases below: Adenine (A) joins Io Thymine Thymine (T) joins to Adenine Cylosine (C) joins Io Guanine Guanine (G) joins to Cyostine 5. Practice: The left side of a DNA molecule is shown. Dratv a complementary right side of the molecule. Eithtw hand draw or r-cno la EDIT ! □ use Ihe drawing tool 6. Challenge. This DNA slrand consists of eight pairs of nitrogenous bases. How many different sequences of eight bases can you make? Explain how you found your answer. Reproduction Far educational use only. Ruble sharing or pasting prohtirted. O2Q2D Ex

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