DNA MODEL help?

Question

i need to make a dna model and i dont know what to use for the adenine and all that and what to use for the backbone or the two sides, please hellp

Answer 1

Well you could mave a very very very small model that is safely packaged inside the nucleus of a red blood cell... Just a little pinprick.

How big a model? What scale? Will you be showing individual atoms and the hydrogen bonds between the adenine and the thymine? How many genes are you going to model (how long)?

You could use paper, scissors, glue, and colored markers...
http://www.csiro.au/helix/dna/dhdnamodel.shtml

Here is one with pipe cleaners and pasta:
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/modeldna/

Here is a nice one you could use cardboard or colored construction paper for:
http://www.starsandseas.com/SAS%20Cells/DNA%20Replication/dnarepli_modelprt.htm

Here is one you could eat:
http://biology.about.com/c/ht/00/07/How_DNA_Model_Candy0962932481.htm

I would have used tinker-toys, or magnetic balls and bars.

Here is one built with K'NEX ® brand constructors, found at most toy stores:
http://biology.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=biology&cdn=education&tm=379&gps=67_654_1012_603&f=00&su=p284.5.420.ip_&tt=2&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//tandem.bu.edu/knex/dna.models.knex.html

Answer 2

depending on how detailed you want to get... but for starters, hit up your crafts store, like michaels, and get the little foam balls. They come in various colors so you can choose your colors representative of whichever base you want. Only five to choose from there. then get a marker and label each with the first letter. then as the bond between them, get the pipe cleaner, this way they will be fixed lengths. Now, the helix may be a little harder. I would suggest getting some firm copper wiring from Home Depot or some other hardware store and use that as the form for the helix.

any other thoughts, let me know.

Answer 3

Wire and blobs of plasticine.