DNA Replication Candy Model

• Biology
• 10th Grade

Bell Ringer: Where are you on our learning scale with the structure of DNA?

1. 4 - I feel comfortable enough to teach others about it
2. 3 - I feel comfortable enough to draw it and tell what each part is
3. 2 - I know what it looks like but could not draw or describe it on my own
4. 1 - I am not comfortable with the structure of DNA

Turn & Talk

Each group has a bag of Twizzlers and 4 different colored Skittles on their desk.  We are going to use these to make a DNA model today.  What part of a DNA double helix do you and your partner think each of these candies represents?

*You can use your notes from Tuesday & Wednesday to help!

**Please don't eat the candy - you will get a fresh bag after!

On Your Printer Paper

1. Put you & your partner's names on your printer paper.
2. Take the candy out of the bag.  
3. Create a model of DNA with five sets of base pairs by laying the candy out on your construction paper.
4. In the corner of the paper, make a key that shows which color Skittle is which base (for example, Purple = Adenine)
5. Don't forget the base pairing rules while making your model!

Using one group member's Kindle or phone,
take a picture of your candy DNA model.
(You will both get credit as long as your
both of your names are on the paper).

On Page 53

We are going to draw three drawings today on page 53.

Drawing #1:  Draw your model.  Be sure to label the...

• Sugar phosphate backbone
• Adenine
• Thymine
• Cytosine
• Guanine

Today's Learning Target

Our goal today is to predict & model the steps of DNA replication using our candy DNA models.  

Here's the first step...

00:07-01:37

Turn & Talk

How do you think we can act out the first step of DNA replication, performed by the enzyme helicase?

On Your Printer Paper

Pretend you and your partner are the enzyme helicase.

Demonstrate what happens to the DNA molecule after it interacts with the enzyme helicase on your candy model.

Using one group member's Kindle or phone,
take a picture of your candy DNA model.
(You will both get credit as long as your
both of your names are on the paper).

On Page 53

Drawing #2:  Draw your model now and label it "After Helicase."

Note which base is which using the initials A, C, G, and T.

Macromolecule Review

Helicase is an enzyme.  

1) What type of macromolecule are enzymes?

2) What would happen to DNA replication if the cell was exposed to extreme heat and why?

Turn & Talk

What is the end goal of DNA replication?

Predict what the next step in your candy DNA replication model will be.  After you and your partner have decided what to do, construct your model of the next step.

Using one group member's Kindle or phone,
take a picture of your candy DNA model.
(You will both get credit as long as your
both of your names are on the paper).

On Page 53

Drawing #3:  Draw your model now and label it "Final Product: After DNA Polymerase."

Note which base is which using the initials A, C, G, and T.

Under your drawing, write a five sentence summary of the process of DNA replication.  

Using YOUR OWN phone or Kindle, submit a picture of your page 53. Each group member should submit their own for participation credit today!