Class DNA Project-
FRANKENSTEIN
Directions: You will be assigned one gene to contribute to our class Frankenstein.
Using the chart, decipher which sequence of DNA nucleotides codes for that
particular trait. For example, if you are assigned eye color, we will be using your traits. Therefore, if you have
blue eyes, you must color in the eyes blue. If your class is also making a class DNA paper model, follow the
chart to determine which DNA sequence codes for blue eyes, and use that sequence to make your paper
model.
Once you have determined the sequence, use the cut-outs to create your DNA (remember DNA is DOUBLE
stranded, so you will have to figure out the complementary strand as well). Then, add your DNA sequence in
the allotted spot. Again, using eye color as the example, you would see it is gene # 7. Therefore, you would
place your DNA code as the seventh code, in numerical order.
Once you have the DNA, you must then contribute to the class drawing of our Frankenstein. So once again,
using the eye color example, you would be responsible for coloring in blue eyes!
Tip: Figure out Sex of the “Frankenstein” FIRST! (See #25)
If your class is also making a DNA model, work on your model while you are waiting to draw or color your
trait onto the class Frankenstein! If you are not making a model, please be patient! Each one of your will
contribute to the class Frankenstein with your assigned trait! Be sure to pay attention to the special
directions.
© Biology Roots, LLC www.biology-roots.com Vanessa Jason. Single classroom use only. Not for public display.
Gene #
Trait
Special Directions
1
Height
2
Jaw/face shape
3
4
5
Ear size (small, average, large)
Earlobe (attached or unattached) and Ear size
Skin color (dark, medium, light)
6
Hair texture (curly, straight, wavy)
7
8
9
10
11
Hair color
Eye shape (almond, round, or a little of both)
Eye color
Eyebrows thickness (bushy, thin or intermediateMUST follow hair color)
Eyebrow shape (arched, average, straight)
Trace your body in pencil; lightly trace head
area- do NOT trace your hands OR feet
You may do some small erasures along head
area if you need to- keep the height
Be sure to color in with skin color
Do not draw until earlobes are determined
Color HEAD LAST, after all facial features are
included
Make sure ears are there before hair is
added!
Do NOT color until hair texture is determined
Wait until eye color is determined
Wait until eye shape is determined to color
Wait until eyebrow shape is determined
before drawing
Wait until eyebrow thickness is determined
before drawing
12
13
14
15
Freckles or no freckles
Nose (small, medium, large)
Nose shape (pointed, average, rounded)
Lip Shape (full, average, thin)
16
17
18
Lip color (purplish, brownish, pinkish)
Chin shape (broad, average, narrow, pointed)
Cleft chin or non-cleft chin
19
20
21
22
Dimples or no dimples
Widows Peak or no widow’s peak
Fingers (long ,short, average)
Cheek shape (rounded, average, high cheekbones)
Cheek color (rosy or non-rosy)
Feet (large, average, small)
Assume that our class Frankenstein already has
one X-chromosome. If you are a girl- you only
have X chromosomes, therefore you can only have
another girl.
23
24
25
Do not draw until nose size is determined!
Lip color is separate; wait until it is
determined
Do not draw until lip shape is determined
Wait until chin shape is determined before
adding a cleft if necessary
Do not color until cheek shape is determined
If you are a boy- you have both an X and a Y
chromosome and must flip a coin. Heads= X- GIRL
Tails=Y -BOY
When you are done, sign your name on the Frankenstein in an inconspicuous place (small around the border).
If you want, you can write which trait you contributed!
Step 1) Find the trait that has been assigned Step 2) Find the corresponding DNA based on your phenotype
and HIGHLIGHT it. Step 3) Make your DNA paper model while you wait for your turn/others to take their turn
to draw traits to create your class Frankenstein!
© Biology Roots, LLC www.biology-roots.com Vanessa Jason. Single classroom use only. Not for public display.
Trait/Gene #1
1) Height
DNA code
Short= CCA AAA GGG
Average = CCA AAA GCC
Round= GGT TAT ACA
Square= GGT TGG ACA
Triangular= GGT TGG ACC
3) Ear Size
Small= AAA TCC GTA
Average= AAA TCC GAC
Large=AAA TCA GAC
4) Earlobe attachment
Attached= GAG CTT TAA
Unattached= GAG CTA TAA
Dark= TAC CCC AAG
Medium= TAC CCC AGG
Curly= CCC GGG AAA
Wavy= CCC GGG TAA
Dark= ACT TAC TAC
Medium= ACT TAC TAG
Almond= GCG CCG ATG
Intermediate= GCG CCG GTA
Brown= AAA TTT CCC
Non-brown= AAT TTT CGC
Bushy= CAC GAG TAT
Average= CAC GAA TAA
Arched= AAT CCG GGT
Intermediate= AAT CCG GTT
2) Jaw/head shape
5) Skin color
6) Hair Texture
7) Hair color
8) Eye shape
9) Eye color
10) Eyebrow thickness
11) Eyebrow Shape
12) Freckles
13) Nose size
14) Nose shape
15) Lip shape
16) Lip color
17) Chin shape
18) Chin Cleft or No cleft
19) Dimples
20) Widow’s Peak
21) Fingers
22) Cheek shape
23) Cheek color
24) Feet
25) Sex
Tall= CCA AAA CCC
Light= TAC CCC GGG
Straight= CCC GGG TTA
Light= ATT TAC TAG
Round= GCG CCG ATA
Thin= CAC AAA TAA
Straight= AAT CCG TGT
Large= TCT TGG AAC
Small= TCT TAA AAA
Average= TCT TGA AAA
Pointed= ACC CGA TA
Rounded= ACC GGA TTC
Average= ACC CGA TTC
Full= GAG ACT CCC
Thin = GAG ACT AAA`
Average= GAG ACT CCA
Purplish= CAG TTT AAA
Pinkish= CAG AAT ACA
Brownish=CAG TAT ACC
Broad= ATA CCC ATA
Narrow=` ATA CCT ATT
Average= ATA CCC ATT
Cleft= TCC CCT GGC
No Cleft= TCC CCT AAA
Dimples= ACG GCA AAA
No dimples= ACG GCA CTT
Widow’s Peak= GTT TAG GCA
No widow’s Peak= GTT TAA GTC
Long= CAT ATC GGG
Short= CAT ATT GTT
Average= CAT ATT GGT
Rounded= CAC GGA TTC
High Cheek Bones= CAC GGG TAA
Average= CAC GGG TTA
Rosy= AAA TGC CCA
Nonrosy= AAA CCC CCT
Large= GAA TCT TCT
Small= GAA TAA TAC
Average= GAA TCT TAA
Male= AAA TTT GCA
Female= AAA TTT TCC
© Biology Roots, LLC www.biology-roots.com Vanessa Jason. Single classroom use only. Not for public display.
Some notes for the teacher…
What is the DNA Class Frankenstein?
Simply put: the DNA Class Frankenstein is a collaborative project that includes a bit of every student’s
phenotypes. Combined, it makes the class Frankenstein.
What is the DNA paper model this activity refers to?
Page 3 is only required if you are making a paper model. If you unsure- you can find one as a resource in my shop:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/DNA-Model-Paper-Project-363552
I recommend doing some sort of paper model while doing a DNA class Frankenstein because there is a lot of downtime
while creating the Frankenstein as students need to add the traits in an orderly fashion, and only about 1-3 students
should be working on the Frankenstein at a time.
Paper models combined with this activity help students connect the structure of DNA with its phenotypic results!
However, you can have them do any activity you wish during the downtime.
What type of paper should we use to create our Frankenstein?
Suggested paper for the class Frankenstein:
https://www.amazon.com/Borden-Riley-Drawing-Paperyards/dp/B003XKGPEY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1476326726&sr=8-4&keywords=large+paper+roll
I like this paper because it is wide enough and at 10 yards in length it will be the perfect length assuming you have 5
classes with an average of 6’ tall students!
Other tips and hints:
1- Assign students their trait – the easiest way is to count them off to 25. If you have more than 25 students in your
class, you have students share some traits such as finger length and foot size (divide the trait among two
students so that each student has their own hand or foot instead of one student doing both). One year, in a
class of 30 kids, we had to include tongue roll and belly button!
2- Encourage your students to read their special directions (For example- the student that determines the hair color
should not draw it until hair texture is determined or vice versa).
3- Students should sign their class Frankenstein when they are done on the border! They can add which trait they
contributed if they would like.
4- One thing I like to do is make a transparency copy of page 2 and put it on the projector so that students can check
off their trait when they are done to help everyone keep track of the progress.
© Biology Roots, LLC www.biology-roots.com Vanessa Jason. Single classroom use only. Not for public display.