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BuildingDNA Student Exploration Answersheet

The document describes the process of DNA replication. It begins by having students build a DNA molecule using the Gizmo. The DNA molecule is made up of a sugar-phosphate backbone on the outside and nitrogenous bases on the inside forming base pairs. DNA polymerase and DNA helicase are enzymes that facilitate replication. DNA polymerase adds complementary nucleotides to each strand. This creates two identical "daughter" DNA molecules with the same sequence of bases as the original "parent" DNA molecule. Mutations can occasionally occur during replication and have consequences such as genetic disorders.

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F5 Gunther
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430 views4 pages

BuildingDNA Student Exploration Answersheet

The document describes the process of DNA replication. It begins by having students build a DNA molecule using the Gizmo. The DNA molecule is made up of a sugar-phosphate backbone on the outside and nitrogenous bases on the inside forming base pairs. DNA polymerase and DNA helicase are enzymes that facilitate replication. DNA polymerase adds complementary nucleotides to each strand. This creates two identical "daughter" DNA molecules with the same sequence of bases as the original "parent" DNA molecule. Mutations can occasionally occur during replication and have consequences such as genetic disorders.

Uploaded by

F5 Gunther
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Name: Daniel Luis________________________ Date: _______1/4/2021____________

Student Exploration: Building DNA

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 tiniest bacterium to a massive
blue whale. DNA also has the ability to replicate, or make copies of itself. This allows living
things to grow and reproduce.

1. Look at the DNA molecule shown at right. What does it look like?

__A double helix strand____________

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 the ladder.)

The DNA strands separated the enzymes called DNA polymerase


which copies each strand using the base-paring rule.

Gizmo Warm-up
The Building 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 two DNA components shown in the Gizmo?

Nucleosides and Phosphates

2. A nucleoside has two parts: a pentagonal sugar


(deoxyribose) and a nitrogenous base (in color). When a
nucleoside is joined to a phosphate, it is called a nucleotide.

How many different nitrogenous bases do you see? Four different nitrogenous bases

Note: The names of these nitrogenous bases are adenine (red), cytosine (yellow), guanine
(blue), and thymine (green).

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Activity A: Get the Gizmo ready:
Build a DNA  If necessary, click Reset to start the building
molecule process.

Question: What is the structure of DNA?


Left side Right side
1. Build: Follow the steps given in the Gizmo to
construct a molecule of DNA. (Note: For simplicity, _____G____ ____C_______
this DNA molecule is shown in two dimensions,
without the twist.) ______A____ _____T_____

Stop when the hint reads: “The DNA molecule is _____C______ ______G_____
complete.” In the spaces at right, list the sequence
of nitrogenous bases on the left-hand side of the ______T_______ __A
DNA molecule and the right-hand side.
_______G_____ ____C__

2. Take a picture: Click the camera ( ) to take a _____A______ __T______


snapshot of your DNA molecule. Right-click the
image and select Copy Image. Paste the image ______C______ __G_____
into a blank document, and label this image
“Original DNA molecule.” _____T______ ______A__

A
3. Explain: Describe the structure of the DNA molecule you made.

A. What makes up the sides of the DNA molecule? Phosphates


B. What makes up the “rungs” of the DNA molecule? Nucleosides

4. Fill in: Write the name of the nitrogenous base that joins to each of the bases below:

Adenine (A) joins to thymine (T) Thymine (T) joins to adenine (A)

Cytosine (C) joins to guanine(G) Guanine (G) joins to Cytosine (C)

5. Practice: The left side of a DNA molecule is shown. Draw a


complementary right side of the molecule.

6. Challenge: This DNA strand consists of eight pairs of nitrogenous


bases. How many different sequences of eight bases can you
make? Explain how you found your answer.
I could make eight different sequences for the eight bases
because you must write down their own base pair which are A, G,
T,A,C,T,C,G.

2018
Activity B: Get the Gizmo ready:
DNA  Be sure the hint reads: “The DNA molecule is complete.”
replication If not, click Reset and build a new DNA molecule.

Question: How does DNA make a copy of itself?

1. Observe: An enzyme is a protein that facilitates certain cell processes. Click Release
enzyme to release DNA helicase. What does this enzyme do to the DNA molecule?

It splits up the bases from their pairs

2. Observe: Click Release enzyme to release DNA polymerase.

A. Notice that two groups of Nucleotides appear on the right. What are the three parts

of a nucleotide? Ribose sugar, a phosphate molecule, and one of four nitrogenous

bases: adenine, guanine, cytosine or uracil.

B. Drag one of the nucleotides to a corresponding nitrogenous base on one of the two

strands. What is the role of DNA polymerase in this process? The main function of

DNA polymerase is to make DNA from nucleotides, the building blocks of DNA.

3. Build: Complete the two molecules of DNA by dragging nucleotides to their corresponding
locations. When you have finished, compare the two completed daughter DNA molecules.

What do you notice about the two molecules? They both shows the DNA molecule strand

4. Take a picture: Click the camera to take a snapshot of the DNA molecules, and paste the
image into your document. Label this image “Daughter DNA molecules.”

How do these molecules compare to the original? It shows the DNA molecule showing a
complete DNA molecule for the daughter cell

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5. Think and discuss: Why is DNA replication such an important process? Because so many
molecules are involved in the process.

6. Extend your thinking: Sometimes errors called mutations occur during DNA replication.
What are some of the possible consequences of mutations?

A mutation is a permanent change in the sequence of DNA. For an observable effect,


mutations must occur in gene exons or regulatory elements.

2018

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