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Student Exploration: Building DNA Day 1: Name

This document provides instructions and background information for a student exploration activity on building DNA. It discusses that DNA contains instructions for building all living organisms, has the ability to replicate copies of itself which allows growth and reproduction. It asks students to observe that DNA forms a double helix shape and that replication involves separating the strands to make copies. It introduces the components that make up DNA - nucleotides which are nucleosides bonded to phosphates, and that there are four different nitrogenous bases involved - adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine.

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68 views1 page

Student Exploration: Building DNA Day 1: Name

This document provides instructions and background information for a student exploration activity on building DNA. It discusses that DNA contains instructions for building all living organisms, has the ability to replicate copies of itself which allows growth and reproduction. It asks students to observe that DNA forms a double helix shape and that replication involves separating the strands to make copies. It introduces the components that make up DNA - nucleotides which are nucleosides bonded to phosphates, and that there are four different nitrogenous bases involved - adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine.

Uploaded by

Got Cheese
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Name:

Student Exploration: Building DNA Day 1


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? (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.)

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?

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?

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

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