Name: ______________________________________ Date: ________________________ Student
Exploration: Building DNA
Vocabulary: double helix, DNA, enzyme, mutation, nitrogenous base, nucleoside, nucleotide,
replication
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
DNA is an incredible molecule that forms the basis of life on Earth. DNA molecules contain
instructions for building every living organism on Earth, from the tiniest bacterium to a massive
blue whale. DNA also has the ability to replicate, or make copies of itself. This allows living
things to grow and reproduce.
1. Look at the DNA molecule shown at right. What does it look
like?
A twirling ladder
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This shape is called a double helix.
2. Based on this picture, how do you think a DNA molecule makes a
copy of itself? (Hint: Look at the bottom two “rungs” of the ladder.)
Each rna molecule duplicates
Gizmo Warm-up
The Building DNA Gizmo™ allows you to construct a DNA
molecule and go through the process of DNA replication.
Examine the components that make up a DNA molecule.
1. What are the two DNA components shown in the Gizmo?
Nucleosides and Phosphates
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2. A nucleoside has two parts: a pentagonal sugar
(deoxyribose) and a nitrogenous base (in color). When a
nucleoside is joined to a phosphate, it is called a nucleotide.
How many different nitrogenous bases do you see? ______5__________________________
Note: The names of these nitrogenous bases are adenine (red), cytosine (yellow), guanine
(blue), and thymine (green).
Activity A: Get the Gizmo ready:
Build a DNA ∙ If necessary, click Reset to start the
molecule building process.
Question: What is the structure of DNA?
Left side Right side
1. Build: Follow the steps given in the Gizmo to
construct a molecule of DNA. (Note: For
simplicity, this DNA molecule is shown in two
dimensions, without the twist.)
Stop when the hint reads: “The DNA molecule
is complete.” In the spaces at right, list the
sequence of nitrogenous bases on the
left-hand side of the DNA molecule and the
right-hand side.
2. Take a picture: Click the camera ( ) to
take a snapshot of your DNA molecule.
Right-click the image and select Copy Image.
Paste the image into a blank document, and
label this image “Original DNA molecule.”
_
3. Explain: Describe the structure of the DNA molecule you made.
A. What makes up the sides of the DNA molecule? Pentagonal sugar and nitrogenous base
B. What makes up the “rungs” of the DNA molecule? A,C,G,T
4. Fill in: Write the name of the nitrogenous base that joins to each of the bases below:
Adenine (A) joins to THYMINE Thymine (T) joins to ADENINE
Cytosine (C) joins to GUANINE Guanine (G) joins to CYTOSINE
5. Practice: The left side of a DNA molecule is shown. Draw a
complementary right side of the molecule.
A
G
T
A
C
T
C
G
6. Challenge: This DNA strand consists of eight pairs of nitrogenous
bases. How many different sequences of eight bases can you
make? Explain how you found your answer.
9 including U, you cannot change the ones they are compatible with these are combinations that can
only be made which have been already
Activity B: Get the Gizmo ready:
DNA ∙ Be sure the hint reads: “The DNA molecule is
replication complete.” If not, click Reset and build a new DNA
molecule.
Question: How does DNA make a copy of itself?
1. Observe: An enzyme is a protein that facilitates certain cell processes. Click Release
enzyme to release DNA helicase. What does this enzyme do to the DNA molecule?
Its breaks apart the DNA
2. Observe: Click Release enzyme to release DNA polymerase.
A. Notice that two groups of Nucleotides appear on the right. What are the three parts
of a nucleotide? ________A,C,G,T,U_________, _________________, _________________
B. Drag one of the nucleotides to a corresponding nitrogenous base on one of the two
strands. What is the role of DNA polymerase in this process? _______its responsible for the reproduction
of DNA molecules
3. Build: Complete the two molecules of DNA by dragging nucleotides to their corresponding
locations. When you have finished, compare the two completed daughter DNA
molecules.
What do you notice about the two molecules? _____________they were exactly the same
_______________________
4. Take a picture: Click the camera to take a snapshot of the DNA molecules, and paste the
image into your document. Label this image “Daughter DNA molecules.”
How do these molecules compare to the original? ______they are identical to the original
___________________________
5. Think and discuss: Why is DNA replication such an important process?
Because a cell cannot be reproduce or grow without replicating DNA
6. Extend your thinking: Sometimes errors called mutations occur during DNA replication.
What are some of the possible consequences of mutations?
They affect the phenotype they can either be noticeable or not
