DNA Paper Model Activity

Objectives:
1. Identify the component molecules of DNA.
2. Construct a model of the DNA double-helix.
3. Identify which bases are found in the DNA
double-helix.
4. Predict the appearance of a complimentary
strand of DNA when given half of a double-
helix molecule.
Materials:
• crayons/coloring materials
• scissors
• glue
• basic subunits of DNA
REVIEW
PROCEDURE
1. Color code the basic subunits of DNA.
Adenine=Yellow
Guanine=Green
Thymine=Blue
Cytosine=Red
Phosphate=Orange/Brown
Deoxyribose=Gray/Black
2. Cut out all the units needed to make
the nucleotide.
12 - Deoxyribose sugar
12 - Phosphate
3 - Thymine
3 - Adenine
3 - Guanine
3 - Cytosine
3. Using the squares, stars, and
circles as guides, line up the
bases (A-T, G-C), phosphates,
and deoxyribose sugars.
4. Glue the appropriate parts
forming nucleotides.
5. Construct DNA model using the
following sequence of bases.
Thymine – Adenine – Cytosine –
Guanine – Adenine – Cytosine
(Let this arrangement represent the
left half of your DNA molecule.)
6. Complete the right side of the
ladder by adding the
complementary bases.
(Turn the bases upside down in
order to make them fit.)
7. Your finished model
should look like a ladder.
GUIDE QUESTIONS
1. What are the common
parts of a nucleotide?
2. What is the one part of
the nucleotide that differs
among the other
nucleotides?
3. What are the
different kinds of
bases?
4. Is there always going to be an
equal number of adenine &
thymine bases in the molecule?
Why?
How about guanine & cytosine?
5. How did you come up
with the arrangement of
the nucleotides?
6. How can you describe
the shape of the DNA
model?