The basic building block of human nature is deoxyribonucleic acid.Biology is one of the most important, cutting-edge fields in science.Making an educational snack is a great way to introduce yourself to DNA at a young age.
Step 1: Take care of your workspace.
You want to be able to eat the DNA after you clean and sanitize a table that has enough surface space for you to build the helix.The necessary supplies include tooth picks, a bag of candy, and some sticks.There are so many food items that can be used to represent the DNA, they just need to be soft enough to fit through a toothpick.Gummies and colored marshmallows are popular.You can chop up strawberries, bananas, grapes, and pineapples for a healthier option.
Step 2: The key is a color.
One of the 4 chemicals that make up the DNA code is represented by a color-coded item.It is important to know in advance which marshmallows represent which chemicals because they bond in different ways.
Step 3: You should start building bases.
Attach the marshmallows, candies, or fruits with toothpicks.Attach the marshmallows to the toothpick by pressing them together.Only 2 types of bonds are possible in nature.Both Guanine and Adenine need to bond with other things.You can verify that you aren't breaking the pattern by consulting your color key.Push the marshmallows close to one another on the toothpick to make sure there is enough room for the licorice.Approximately 6 base pairs should be created after this process is repeated.In any order, base pairs can be arranged.For the sake of the project, you should have at least one of each type of base pair.
Step 4: The bases need to be connected to the backbone.
The bases are held together by a single strand of DNA.Take the toothpicks with the marshmallows and poke the end of them through a stick of candy.You should aim to make a ladder shape by taking several base pairs and lying them next to one another to form a line of parallel bases.You can connect the bases with toothpicks if you don't want to use licorice.toothpicks should be inserted into the top of the marshmallows on each side to connect them to the next base.Continue until all bases are connected.
Step 5: It's a good idea to twist the candy.
Once you have connected enough bases that it resembles a ladder, you can twist it to make it look like a spiral staircase.This is what the real world looks like.
Step 6: Check that the model is correct.
If the bases are properly bonded, look at the color key.Cytosine should pair with Guanine.The model is wrong if the nucleotides cannot form a hydrogen bond with each other.The code that tells your body how to work is formed by the order of base pairs.The system of zeros and one is what tells your computer what to do.
Step 7: Compare the genes.
Have the students compare what they made.You can see how they differ.It is possible for an actual human gene to have as many as 2,000,000 base pairs.Explain that the differences they see in their model DNA grow as a strand reaches 2,000,000 base pairs, so that these strands can store an incredible amount of information, enough to make each person in the classroom unique and different from their peers.You can make multiple strands and compare them to each other if you did the project alone.How many different arrangements can be made?
Step 8: Remember the strength.
The nucleus of the DNA is easy to forget because it doesn't store any information.The name suggests that it holds the whole thing together.There is a sugar and a phosphate group in the backbone.The structure to the DNA is given by these.
Step 9: Take a look at your genetics.
Students can build a list of genetic traits and compare them to other students or their parents.Genetics can be compared to include: eye color, haircolor, dimples, dominant hands, freckles, and curliness of hair.
Step 10: Don't go down.
Science isn't just about abstract ideas, it's about making our lives better.Food is put on the table by science.The practical benefits of science are better realized by eating it in its glorious sweet state.It was made to be eaten.