Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
DNA Is Packaged in a Chromosome
Roger Kornberg, the oldest son of two biochemists, won the 2006 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Learn about Kornberg and his scientific research with an animation, videos, biography, and an applied problem-solving activity. A summary and...
Curated OER
DNA Modeling
Learners study DNA and its nucleotides. They manipulate paper nucleotides of DNA and investigate how the molecule is produced. Paper versions of sugars, phosphates, and nitrogen bases included.
Curated OER
Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis
Tenth graders complete a vocabulary assignment based on terms in the unit. They complete appropriate worksheets as each section of the unit is completed. They participate in classroom discussions. They construct a model of a DNA molecule.
Agriculture in the Classroom
Design 'Y'er Genes
How do changes in DNA affect an organism? Scholars explore chromosomes, genes, DNA, and mutations by modeling the DNA of a strawberry. They build a DNA model, then manipulate it to show how changing the genes transforms the strawberry...
Concord Consortium
Modeling Translation
An mRNA sequences make proteins, the most common molecules in cells. Young scientists observe translation of mRNA on ribosomes. They view them forming amino acids. Finally, the amino acids curl into proteins.
Curated OER
DNA Extraction
Students are able to extract and observe a visible amount of DNA from Escherichia coli cells. They discuss the properties of DNA. Students confirm the presence of DNA by a reaction with an indicator.
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Genes Can Be Moved Between Species
Biotechnology changes lives every day, but how did it all start? Learn about Cohen and Boyer's technique for recombinant DNA and the founding of this new scientific study. Then, scholars use the online interactive to discover how Hanahan...
Curated OER
DNA in a "Snap"
Students observe a model of DNA and answer probing questions like, "What does this model represent?" They then work in small groups to construct an accurate model of DNA per rubric provided and present to the class explaining their model...
Curated OER
Extracting DNA from Your Cells - Teacher Preparation Notes
Students extract their own DNA from cheek cells. For this biology instructional activity, students explain the replication process. They identify the structure and composition of DNA.
Curated OER
DNA Sequencing Model Lab
Students pretend they are each genetic engineers with a test tube of unknown DNA (PCR'd) possibly taken from blood cells of someone with a genetic condition.
Biology Junction
Protein Synthesis
Watson and Crick built the first model of DNA in the 1950s, and our understanding of DNA since then continues to grow exponentially. Scholars learn about protein synthesis by observing a presentation and completing a worksheet. Both walk...
Curated OER
Genetics DNA Replication
High schoolers explore DNA replication. Beginning with a teacher led discussion, students examine inherited information, genes, and Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid (DNA). As the teacher models the structures of DNA, tells about the...
Curated OER
Genetic Engineering/Biotechnology
Students create a paper model of a plasmid and insert a DNA molecule that contains a specific gene into the plasmid. They complete an actual transformation involving E. coli bacterium and relate the two activities to one another.
Curated OER
GenEng
Students investigate the process of genetic engineering. In this genetic engineering lesson plan, students use paper models of DNA and plasmid bacterium to investigate the process of replicating DNA, splicing genes from DNA, and...
Curated OER
Do You Know the Master Programmer?
Fourth graders, using candy, build models of DNA replication, RNA transcription, and tRNA translation.
Curated OER
Games and Activities to Teach Molecular Genetics
Students demonstrate a working knowledge of cell interactions such as DNA replication, protein synthesis (transcription and translation), through active participation in a cooperative group.
Curated OER
Protein Synthesis
In this protein synthesis worksheet, students use a given strand of DNA to write the complimentary base pairs. They transcribe the message to the RNA and then they translate the message into the proper amino acids using the codons on the...
Curated OER
Science Lesson: Chocolate Flavored Cherries
Students are able to identify start and stop sequences in DNA. They are able to model using restriction enzyme and ligase to remove sections of DNA and reattach them. Students are introduced to the process of recombinat DNA through the...
Curated OER
DNA Model and Protein Synthesis
High schoolers build a 3-dimensional model of DNA coding for the hormone oxytocin.
Kenan Fellows
Unit 1: Introduction to Biotechnology
Biotechnology is big! Introduce the uses of biotechnology to science scholars with a fascinating, fact-filled unit. The first installment in a series of four biotechnology units covers the role biotechnology plays in human and...
Curated OER
Building a Model DNA
Middle schoolers explain the function of DNA in the body. In this biology lesson, students build a DNA model using simple materials. They demonstrate how bases pair up in the helix.
Curated OER
How Big is a Gene?
Students model the size and structure of a bacterial chromosome. In this genetics instructional activity, students attempt to fit strands of thread into a gelatin capsule. They relate the activity to the coiling of DNA into chromosomes...
Curated OER
Making Molecules
In this making molecules worksheet, young scholars complete a table of elements with their symbol, atomic number, atomic mass, number of protons, number of electrons, period and group. Students then make models using pipe cleaners and...
Curated OER
Spiral Symmetry
Taking the notion of symmetry to the next level, this looks at combining rotation and translation symmetry to build spiral symmetry in three dimensions. Using the Zome modeling system and an instructor’s guidance, geometers try to build...