DNA Modeling Activity


Source Institutions

Source Institutions

Add to list Go to activity
Using pipe cleaners, straws, and beads, learners explore the building blocks of life by creating their own model of DNA. This activity provides a great introduction to learning about the structure of DNA and the relationships between the four chemical bases — adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine. [Activity is publicly available through a web crawler capture on Archive.org.]

Quick Guide


Preparation Time:
5 to 10 minutes

Learning Time:
10 to 30 minutes

Estimated Materials Cost:
$1 - $5 per student

Age Range:
Ages 8 - 18

Resource Types:
Activity, Model

Language:
English

Materials List (per student)


  • modeling clay (golf ball size)
  • pipe cleaners
  • plastic straws
  • pipe cleaners cut into 2 inch pieces
  • plastic straws cut into 1.5 inch pieces
  • 10-20 beads (4 different colors)
  • tape

Subjects


  • Life Sciences
    • Heredity and Genetics
      • DNA Structure and Function

Informal Categories


  • Model Building

Audience


To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • see color
  • read
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other


Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

Rights: