Lesson: History of DNA

How was the structure of DNA determined?

The story of the discovery of the DNA model is one of collaboration, creativity and determination. Over many years it was determined that DNA was the genetic material, but then the race was on to discover its actual structure.

#content #criticalthinking #community #collaboration #communication #creativity

Warm Ups, etc:

Cell Structure Review - review the basics of the nucleus, nucleolus and ribosomes.

DNA History - review the contributions of the scientists which led to the DNA model of the double helix.

Activities, Assignments, Etc.

Preview Assignment for History/Structure/Replication

Section 8.1- pg214 formative- (#1-6)

Section 8.2

-pg 217 fig 2.1 Compare

-pg 218- APPLY

-pg 219 APPLY

-pg 219 formative (#1-6)

Section 8.3

-pg 220 (#1-2)

-pg 222 APPLY & INFER

-pg 224 formative (#1-6)

Cartoon History of DNA (presentation) - diagrams that show the following (there is a hand-drawn handout from the plan book, too...)

- Summarize Griffith's experiment on "Transformation" showing that bacteria were altered by some factor

- Avery's experiment indicated that it was DNA, not proteins

- Hershey and Chase use radioactively labeled bacteriophages to show they transmitted Nucleic Acid

- Chargaff's Rule (A=T, C=G)

- Rosalind Franklin's x-ray of DNA crystal indicated a helical structure

- Watson & Crick put the pieces together (even by building models) to show DNA is a double helix with a sugar-phosphate backbone and complimentary base pairing in the middle - Include NATURE article on study guide from plan book (and this article is a good resource, too!)

Review/Closure - examine book's chronology and look at other diagrams of DNA