Docsity
Docsity

Prepare for your exams
Prepare for your exams

Study with the several resources on Docsity


Earn points to download
Earn points to download

Earn points by helping other students or get them with a premium plan


Guidelines and tips
Guidelines and tips

Lab Activity: Discovering the Structure of DNA, Summaries of Genetics

A lab activity for students to determine the structure of dna and understand how the genetic code is carried. Students will color-code nucleotides and join them together to form a model of dna. Questions about the common and differing parts of nucleotides, the pairing arrangement of nitrogen bases, and the sequence of bases in the dna molecule.

Typology: Summaries

2021/2022

Uploaded on 09/12/2022

dylanx
dylanx 🇺🇸

4.7

(21)

287 documents

1 / 2

Toggle sidebar

This page cannot be seen from the preview

Don't miss anything!

bg1
D:science/genetics/buildingdnalab 2/2002
Name ______________________ Discovering DNA Structure
Section _____________________
D = deoxyribo
N = nucleic
A = acid
DNA contains the information for carrying out the activities of the cell. How this information is coded or passed
from cell to cell was at one time unknown. To break the code, today you will do a paper lab to determine the
structure of DNA and show how the genetic code is carried. Each member of your group has a molecule called
a NUCLEOTIDE. DNA is made up of repeating units of nucleotides.
Color the nucleotides using the following key:
Deoxyribose = red Phosphate = blue
A (Adenine) = green C (Cytosine) = yellow
G (Guanine) = purple T (Thymine) = orange
1. Look at your nucleotide and the nucleotides of the other members of your group. What are the THREE
common parts of a nucleotide?
2. What is the ONE part of a nucleotide that differs among the four DIFFERENT nucleotides in your group?
3. List the four different kinds of nitrogen bases.
Manipulate the nucleotide pieces until you find the best fit. Join the nucleotide molecules in your group together
like a puzzle. Use tape to connect and reinforce the molecules. You now have a molecule of DNA.
4. In the space below, explain WHERE the nucleotide molecules connect to each other.
5. A real DNA molecule consists of THOUSANDS of these pairs of nucleotides. What is the pairing
arrangement of nitrogen bases?
_________ pairs with ________and _________ pairs with __________
6. Are there always going to be an EQUAL number of adenine and thymine nucleotides in a molecule? Why?
7. Are there always going to be an EQUAL number of guanine and cytosine molecules in a molecule of DNA?
Why?
8. Scientists abbreviate the nitrogen bases by using the first letter of each base. So,
A always binds to ____
G always binds to ____
pf2

Partial preview of the text

Download Lab Activity: Discovering the Structure of DNA and more Summaries Genetics in PDF only on Docsity!

D:science/genetics/buildingdnalab 2/

Name ______________________ Discovering DNA Structure Section _____________________

D = deoxyribo

N = nucleic

A = acid

DNA contains the information for carrying out the activities of the cell. How this information is coded or passed from cell to cell was at one time unknown. To break the code, today you will do a paper lab to determine the structure of DNA and show how the genetic code is carried. Each member of your group has a molecule called a NUCLEOTIDE. DNA is made up of repeating units of nucleotides.

Color the nucleotides using the following key: Deoxyribose = red Phosphate = blue A (Adenine) = green C (Cytosine) = yellow G (Guanine) = purple T (Thymine) = orange

  1. Look at your nucleotide and the nucleotides of the other members of your group. What are the THREE common parts of a nucleotide?
  2. What is the ONE part of a nucleotide that differs among the four DIFFERENT nucleotides in your group?
  3. List the four different kinds of nitrogen bases.

Manipulate the nucleotide pieces until you find the best fit. Join the nucleotide molecules in your group together like a puzzle. Use tape to connect and reinforce the molecules. You now have a molecule of DNA.

  1. In the space below, explain WHERE the nucleotide molecules connect to each other.
  2. A real DNA molecule consists of THOUSANDS of these pairs of nucleotides. What is the pairing arrangement of nitrogen bases?

_________ pairs with ________and _________ pairs with __________

  1. Are there always going to be an EQUAL number of adenine and thymine nucleotides in a molecule? Why?
  2. Are there always going to be an EQUAL number of guanine and cytosine molecules in a molecule of DNA? Why?
  3. Scientists abbreviate the nitrogen bases by using the first letter of each base. So, A always binds to ____ G always binds to ____

D:science/genetics/buildingdnalab 2/

  1. In the space below, use the letters to show the sequence (order) of the bases in the DNA molecule that your group constructed. Begin at the top left side of your molecule. ____goes with ____ ____goes with ____

The structure of DNA is actually in a DOUBLE HELIX arrangement.

DOUBLE HELIX means that the two long chains of nucleotides are arranged in a spiral like a twisted ladder.

  1. The sides (or "uprights") of the ladder are made up of alternating _____________ and _____________ molecules. The steps (or "rungs") of the ladder are made of _______________ held together by HYDROGEN BONDS.

Bring your molecule to the front of the room and join it to the molecules of the other groups. We now have one large DNA molecule.