DNA Paper Model LabDirections

You will work in groups of 3-4. Write the names of all members of your lab group: __________________________________________

EVERY student in the lab group is responsible for coloring and cutting some of the DNA pieces. Group members must divide up the coloring/cutting work.

YOUR MODEL AND ANALYSIS QUESTIONS ARE DUE TODAY!!!

Procedure

1. Color the nucleotide parts according to the following key:

a. Phosphate groups = red c. Adenine = orange e. Guanine = purple

b. Deoxyribose sugar = white d. Thymine = green f. Cytosine = blue

2. Cut out each DNA shape above separately. You will need the following numbers:

a. 24 Phosphate groups c. 6 Adenines e. 6 Guanines

b. 24 Deoxyribose sugar d. 6 Thymine f. 6 Cytosines

3. Using your cut out DNA nucleotide shapes, construct a two dimensional (flat) DNA model on butcher paper using the following nucleotide sequence as your TEMPLATE strand:

3’ A G C T C A G T A T G C 5’

RECALL: the 3’ end has a hydroxyl group and the 5’ end has a phosphate group

4. BEFORE you glue anything, call Ms. Fassio over to check your model. After your model is approved, you may glue your model to the butcher paper.

5. Once you have everything glued down in the correct order, write the following labels on your model:

o 2 DNA nucleotides o sugar phosphate DNA backboneo a covalent bondo 2 hydrogen bonds Adenine and Thymineo 3 hydrogen bonds between Guanine and Cytosineo a purineo a pyrimidineo 5’ end of DNA (label on both strands)o 3’ end of DNA (label on both strands)

Rubric: (Total points = 40 points)

_______ 10 points for the correct DNA model (set up and colored)

_______ 10 points for the correct labels (1 point each; see step #5 for labels)

_______ 20 points for the post-lab/analysis question

DNA Paper Lab Analysis Questions

**Please answer these questions on a SEPARATE piece of paper. Title your paper “DNA Paper Lab Analysis Questions”

Do not re-write the questions but you must use COMPLETE sentences.

1. Where is DNA located in a eukaryotic cell?

2. Where is the DNA located in a prokaryotic cell?

3. What is a nucleotide?

4. What are the 3 parts of a nucleotide? (3 points)

5. Draw and label each part in question #3.

6. Study your DNA Paper model and answer the following questions:

a. How many nucleotides are in your DNA model?

b. What is the genetic code on the TEMPLATE strand?

c. What is the genetic code on the compliment strand?

7. What are the base pairing rules for DNA?

8. What chemical bonds hold the base pairs together?

9. How many of the bonds (from question #8) hold together EACH base pair?

10. What is the different between a purine base and a pyrimidine base?

11. Which bases are the purines?

12. Which bases are the pyrimidines?

13. What parts of your DNA model make up the backbone of a DNA molecule?

14. What type of chemical bond holds together this backbone?

15. Assume a 100 base pair DNA double helix contains 45 cytosines. How many adenines are there in this double helix? Explain how you got this number. (2 points)