Remembering the Molecules that Compose a Nucleotide - Nucleic Acids - DNA, RNA

Sung to the tune of the Nationwide Insurance commercial jingle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYc0upTJg3M

Phosphate     Sugar       and a   Base!

How To Make A Paper Model of DNA

If you are looking for the patterns and some pictures for the paper DNA model, please look at my April 8, 2007 posts! Starting with:
http://cavalierscience.blogspot.com/2007/04/how-to-make-paper-model-of-dna.html
http://cavalierscience.blogspot.com/2007/04/cut-out-pattern-for-making-paper-model_08.html
http://cavalierscience.blogspot.com/2007/04/cut-out-pattern-for-making-paper-model.html
They include the directions and templates for making the model.

Oldest Neanderthal DNA Found in Italian Skeleton

Oldest Neanderthal DNA Found in Italian Skeleton

More on human evolution can be found here:
http://cavalierscience.blogspot.com/search?q=human+evolution+multimedia

Paper Model DNA 2012-2013

If you are looking for the patterns and some pictures for the paper DNA model, please look at my April 8, 2007 posts! Starting with:
http://cavalierscience.blogspot.com/2007/04/how-to-make-paper-model-of-dna.html

http://cavalierscience.blogspot.com/2007/04/cut-out-pattern-for-making-paper-model_08.html

http://cavalierscience.blogspot.com/2007/04/cut-out-pattern-for-making-paper-model.html

They include the directions and templates for making the model.

DNA Paper Model 2010- 2011

 
DNA_3_2010_11
Originally uploaded by sneakerdoggy
If you are looking for the patterns and some pictures for the paper DNA model, please look at my April 8, 2007 posts! Starting with:
http://cavalierscience.blogspot.com/2007/04/how-to-make-paper-model-of-dna.html
http://cavalierscience.blogspot.com/2007/04/cut-out-pattern-for-making-paper-model_08.html
http://cavalierscience.blogspot.com/2007/04/cut-out-pattern-for-making-paper-model.html
They include the directions and templates for making the model.

Paper Model of DNA - 2009-2010

If you are looking for the patterns and some pictures for the paper DNA model, please look at my April 8, 2007 posts! Starting with:

http://cavalierscience.blogspot.com/2007/04/how-to-make-paper-model-of-dna.html


http://cavalierscience.blogspot.com/2007/04/cut-out-pattern-for-making-paper-model_08.html


http://cavalierscience.blogspot.com/2007/04/cut-out-pattern-for-making-paper-model.html
They include the directions and templates for making the model.
 
Here are the pictures of the DNA model that was made by my students for the school year 2009-2010.  The sections of blue and gold DNA were the result of instruction by my student teachers from the University of Delaware and are the school's colors.
 

Protein Synthesis - Graphic Organizer - Storyboarding

I use storyboarding to teach the processes of protein synthesis, photosynthesis, and cellular respiration. I introduce my students to the concept of storyboarding by showing them this American Film Institute video, which can be found on these two web sites:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWPjjoOFIu8
or
http://www.afi.com/education/screened/demo/screened_tables_student.aspx
However, the above links have now become unavailable.  I'm leaving them in there for reference.  But I found another website that has the video!!!  https://app.schooltube.com/video/d2525f42fd3809f3dabd/Storyboarding%20(AFI's%20Lights,%20Camera,%20Education!)
I did find a website with a video about storyboarding on this website, even though it is not nearly as good as the original, I does give students ideas about drawing out stories as pictures or cartoons.
http://uwsslec.libguides.com/c.php?g=187016&p=1236350




I introduce this lesson by telling students that the class will be playing the roles of the molecules involved in the process of protein synthesis.  Before we can play the roles, we need to familiarize ourselves with the story and the characters of the story.
Here we talk about the characters by using this handout (example key follows):

THE STORY OF PROTEIN SYNTHESIS

THE CHARACTERS

Next, we begin to visualize the characters in the story of protein synthesis by drawing cartoon pictures of them on a storyboard hand-out that can be obtained from this web site:

https://myhero.com/hosted/teachersroomresources/AFI_BasicsHandbook.pdf

Here is another web site: http://pizzabytheslice.com/downloads/blank_storyboards.pdf

Here is an example:

Here are some examples of storyboards for the process of protein synthesis:

After composing the storyboards for the process of protein synthesis, students "act" out the process by participating in the Protein Synthesis and Words Activity, which was designed by Lynn Marie Wartski, that is on the Access for Excellence Web Site:  http://www.accessexcellence.org/AE/ATG/data/released/0247-LynnWartski/index.php    I created a playbill and I display it in the classroom, during the activity.  It illustrates the characters and describes the activity.

My previous posts have the storyboards for respiration, the Calvin cycle, and the light reactions of photosynthesis.

Here are some examples of books that utilize graphics to teach:
http://www.powells.com/book/manga-guide-to-molecular-biology-9781593272029/2-2
Also, Larry Gonick's cartoon guides are fun and informative:
http://www.powells.com/SearchResults?kw=title:larry%20gonick

For the storyboarding graphic organizers you may visit my other posts:
http://cavalierscience.blogspot.com/2010/06/protein-synthesis-graphic-organizer.html
http://cavalierscience.blogspot.com/2010/06/cellular-respiration-graphic-organizer.html
http://cavalierscience.blogspot.com/2010/06/photosynthesis-calvin-cycle-graphic.html
http://cavalierscience.blogspot.com/2010/06/photosynthesis-light-reactions-graphic.html

If you find links in my blog that do not work, please let me know by submitting a comment.  I would like to keep everything up-to-date and relevant.

How To Make a Paper Model of DNA

How to Make a Paper Model of DNA

Modeling is a process used by scientists to assist in understanding the how the world works. Making models of molecules helps biologists and chemists define how the molecule is put together and predict the chemical nature of the molecule. James Watson and Francis Crick used modeling, along with the X-ray crystallographic images of Rosalind Franklin, to determine the structure and nature of the DNA molecule. I have devised a pattern that can be used to construct a paper model of the DNA molecule. This simple model helps students learn some(not all)of the properties of the construction of the molecule. In addition, the model shows off the beauty of the shape and symmetry of DNA. The patterns for the paper model can be obtained from my April 8 posts to this web site: http://www.cavalierscience.blogspot.com/

http://cavalierscience.blogspot.com/2007/04/how-to-make-paper-model-of-dna.html

http://cavalierscience.blogspot.com/2007/04/cut-out-pattern-for-making-paper-model_08.html
http://cavalierscience.blogspot.com/2007/04/cut-out-pattern-for-making-paper-model.html

There is a pattern for the 5 prime side and another pattern for the 3 prime side. You need to print and use both patterns to make the model.

First, the model illustrates that the DNA has two different, complementary sides. Second, the model shows that on one side, the sugar phosphate backbone of the molecule is bonded with the 5' end going to the 3' end, and the other side of the molecule is bonded with the 3' end going to the 5' end. Third, if students pay attention, when they are constructing the molecule, they will see that the Adenine base always pairs with the Thymine base and that the Cytosine base always pairs with the Guanine base.

Lastly, students get a feel for how the helical shape comes about; the molecule fits in such a way that it has a natural twist. And there is more. When everyone's model is made, the models can be taped together, end-to-end, to illustrate that DNA is a very long twisted molecule.

After the paper model patterns (see previous posts) are copied, they are cut out on all of the solid lines. The shaded areas in the pattern are discarded. The dotted lines allow for the bases to be folded to create the horizontal rungs of the DNA "ladder." Transparent tape is used to tape together the bases (hydrogen bonds). One base is placed slightly on top and overlapping the other matching base, and then the tape is applied by wrapping it around both front and back. Once one base pair has been put together, all of the other base pairs must be put together in the same way. If this is done properly, the molecule will naturally twist into a perfect double helix. This is somewhat realistic because it demonstrates that there are 10 base pairs per full turn, of the helix, which is what is found in the real DNA molecule. Copying the patterns onto colored paper adds interest and beauty to the model. Also, copying the pattern onto tag board, or manila folder, makes the model stiffer, as shown in the photos.

Cut-Out Pattern For Making a Paper Model of DNA - 3 Prime

You also need to print out the complementary 5' side of the molecule - see the previous post.
http://cavalierscience.blogspot.com/2007/04/cut-out-pattern-for-making-paper-model_08.html