Download DNA/mRNA Model Activity

Ms. Gaynor/Honors Genetics
Model Project
Unit #2: DNA/RNA
Eukaryotic DNA and RNA Pipe Cleaner Model Lab
For mission:
You and your lab group are in a “Race to the Nucleic Acid Structures” against your other classmates. Your job
is to create the MOST ACCURATE models to explain the structures of eukaryotic DNA and (mature) mRNA in
a eukaryotic cell.
Materials that are available in your lab are:
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Colored pipe cleaners
Colored plastic beads
Other materials your lab group could use (but need to be provided) are:
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Modeling clay
Colored cotton balls
White cotton balls
Colored felt
Rubber bands
Tin foil
Colored foam
…anything else you can think of 
The assignment:
1. Create a model of eukaryotic DNA
2. Create a model of eukaryotic (mature) mRNA
3. Create a key on a piece of cardboard to represent all the model parts (see below for what needs to
be included)
Your models must include:
1. Phosphate group (PO43-)
2. Deoxyribose sugar
3. Ribose sugar
4. Adenine
5. Guanine
6. Cytosine
7. Thymine
8. Uracil
9. Hydrogen bonds
10. Phosphodiester bonds
11. Telomeres
12. 5’ ends
13. 3’ ends
14. 5’ cap (HINT: it is made of GTP called guanine triphosphate)
15. Poly A tail
16. Exons with codons (mRNA coding region)
17. UTR’s (untranslational regions)
1
Ms. Gaynor/Honors Genetics
Model Project
Unit #2: DNA/RNA
Words of Advice:
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I would suggest using pipe cleaners as a framework.
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You also need to show that the DNA strands are anti-parallel and that they are joined by the
appropriate number of bonds between bases.
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Bases must also be attached to the sugars, not the phosphates, and base pairing rules must be
followed.
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Purine (bigger) are bases with 2 rings of carbon and pyrimidines (smaller) are bases with 1 ring of
carbon.
o
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1 pyrimidine always pairs with a purine.
Finally, the DNA model must show the helical shape of DNA and your mRNA must show a linear
shape.
Your Rubric:
Points
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
o 2 models (DNA and mRNA) are turned in.
o All 17 pieces of your models are present.
o Your names, date and period are on your models.
o Please use masking tape to do this.
o Each model is labeled with making tape either as DNA or mRNA.
KEY (complete on cardboard that is provided)
o Your names, date and period are on your key.
o All elements of the model are included and identified in your key
MODEL
o “backbone” of alternating sugar and phosphates is present in both models
o bases attached to sugars (each sugar has a base) in both models
o bases paired appropriately (A+T, C+G, A+ U in mRNA) in both models
o appropriate # of hydrogen bonds between base pairs of each strand in DNA
o anti-parallel backbones in DNA are accurate
o telomeres are present on DNA correctly
o helical shape/twist (DNA) and linear (mRNA) with accurate
o each model is AT LEAST 8 nucleotides long
o HINT: that means your DNA model needs 16 nucleotides
o pyrimidines and purines are accurately portrayed
o ends of mRNA are correctly portrayed including caps and UTR’s
OTHER
o Creativity and effort
TOTAL (towards project grade)
20
17
2
2
1
17
10
10
10
10
2
2
2
12
10
10
13
150
Your “Nobel” Prize:
o
You and your teammates get an “GOOD JOB COUPON” (to be used as extra credit or a late homework
pass) pass and be able to pick something out of Ms. Gaynor’s candy box 
2
Ms. Gaynor/Honors Genetics
Model Project
Unit #2: DNA/RNA
Names: ________________________________________________________ Period: ______________
Pts
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
o 2 models (DNA and mRNA) are turned in.
o All 17 pieces of your models are present.
o Your names, date and period are on your models.
o Please use masking tape to do this.
o Each model is labeled with making tape either as DNA or mRNA.
KEY (complete on cardboard that is provided)
o Your names, date and period are on your key.
o All elements of the model are included and identified in your key
MODEL
o “backbone” of alternating sugar and phosphates is present in both models
o bases attached to sugars (each sugar has a base) in both models
o bases paired appropriately (A+T, C+G, A+ U in mRNA) in both models
o appropriate # of hydrogen bonds between base pairs of each strand in DNA
o anti-parallel backbones in DNA are accurate
o telomeres are present on DNA correctly
o helical shape/twist (DNA) and linear (mRNA) with accurate
o each model is AT LEAST 8 nucleotides long; DNA model needs 16 nucleotides
o pyrimidines and purines are accurately portrayed
o ends of mRNA are correctly portrayed including caps and UTR’s
OTHER
o Creativity and effort
Pts Missed
20
17
2
2
1
17
10
10
10
10
2
2
2
12
10
10
13
TOTAL (towards project grade) 150
Names: ________________________________________________________ Period: ______________
Pts
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
o 2 models (DNA and mRNA) are turned in.
o All 17 pieces of your models are present.
o Your names, date and period are on your models.
o Please use masking tape to do this.
o Each model is labeled with making tape either as DNA or mRNA.
KEY (complete on cardboard that is provided)
o Your names, date and period are on your key.
o All elements of the model are included and identified in your key
MODEL
o “backbone” of alternating sugar and phosphates is present in both models
o bases attached to sugars (each sugar has a base) in both models
o bases paired appropriately (A+T, C+G, A+ U in mRNA) in both models
o appropriate # of hydrogen bonds between base pairs of each strand in DNA
o anti-parallel backbones in DNA are accurate
o telomeres are present on DNA correctly
o helical shape/twist (DNA) and linear (mRNA) with accurate
o each model is AT LEAST 8 nucleotides long; DNA model needs 16 nucleotides
o pyrimidines and purines are accurately portrayed
o ends of mRNA are correctly portrayed including caps and UTR’s
OTHER
o Creativity and effort
Pts Missed
20
17
2
2
1
17
10
10
10
10
2
2
2
12
10
10
13
TOTAL (towards project grade) 150
3
Ms. Gaynor/Honors Genetics
Model Project
Unit #2: DNA/RNA
4