Exploring Structures: DNA
Source Institutions
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NISE Network
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In this activity, learners create a necklace of wheat germ DNA. Learners add alcohol to wheat germ so that the DNA clumps together. Use this activity to talk about how self-assembly is a process by which molecules and cells form themselves into functional structures. Safety note: do not allow learners to ingest any of the materials!
- 2 to 4 hours
- 5 to 10 minutes
- $10 - $20 per group of students
- Ages 4 - adult
- Activity, Demonstration, Experiment/Lab Activity
- English, Spanish
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- Raw wheat germ (not processed) (available from grocery stores)
- Hot water
- Meat tenderizer
- Shampoo (or dishwashing detergent)
- Plastic spoon
- Isopropyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol (91%)
- Cup
- Dropper bottle
- 1.5 ml microcentrifuge tubes (Eppendorf tubes) (look for 1.5 ml tubes with snap caps)
- Pipettes (1 ml)
- Yarn
- Scissors
- Ice pack
- Small plastic bin
Subjects
- Engineering and Technology
- Engineering
- Bioengineering/Biomedical Engineering
- Metallurgy and Materials Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Engineering
- Life Sciences
- Cells
- Chemistry of Life
- Heredity and Genetics
- Human Genetics
- DNA Structure and Function
- Cells
- Physical Sciences
- Chemistry
- Chemical Reactions
- Structure and Properties of Matter
- Atomic Structure
- Chemistry
Informal Categories
- Crime Science
- Food and Cooking
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
Foreign language versions of this resource:
- Spanish: Exploring Structures DNA - Sign (Spanish)
- Spanish: Exploring Structures DNA - Guide (Spanish)
Components that are part of this resource:
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
Rights:
- Creative Commons, Sciencenter, 2011
Funding Sources:
- National Science Foundation, 0532536
- National Science Foundation, 0940143
