DNA Paper Model Lab
Procedure
1. Color each nucleotide piece/shape a different color. For example,
a. Phosphate groups = red
c. Adenine = orange
e. Guanine = purple
b. Deoxyribose sugar = white
d. Thymine = green
f. Cytosine = blue
2. Cut out each DNA shape above separately. You will need the following numbers. You can cut more if you’d like!
a. 24 Phosphate groups
c. 6 Adenines
e. 6 Guanines
b. 24 Deoxyribose sugar
d. 6 Thymine
f. 6 Cytosines
3. Tape 2 pieces of construction paper together (the long way).
4. Using your cut out DNA nucleotide shapes, construct a two dimensional (2D) DNA model on your
construction paper using the following gene sequence as your template:
3’
A G A T C A C C G T T G
5’
a. RECALL: the 3’ end has a hydroxyl group and the 5’ end has a phosphate group
5. After you are finished constructing your model, call your teacher over for the oral quiz #1. Your teacher will
ask you to point out parts on your model. Study the vocabulary in step #7 to prepare for this quiz.
 While you are waiting to be quizzed, you may:
o
Work on your analysis questions (1 per lab group)
o
Quiz each other on the words below (in step #7).
6. After you pass oral quiz #1 (), you may glue your model to the construction paper.
7. Once you have everything glued down in the correct order, write the following labels on your picture/model:
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o
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a DNA nucleotide
DNA double helix
DNA backbone
phosphodiester bond
2 hydrogen bonds
3 hydrogen bonds
1’ carbon
2’ carbon
3’ carbon
4’ carbon
5’ carbon
purine
pyrimidine
5’ end of DNA (both strands)
3’ end of DNA (both strands)
Rubric: (Total points = 62 points)
_______ 10 points for the correct DNA model (set up and colored)
_______ 10 points for oral group quiz
_______ 15 points for the correct labels (1 point each; see step #7 for labels)
_______ 17 points for the post-lab/analysis question
_______ 10 points for neatness and title
PLEASE DO NOT WRITE ON THIS PIECE OF
PAPER!
DNA Paper Lab Analysis
Questions
**Please answer these questions on a SEPARATE piece of paper.
1. Where is DNA located in a eukaryotic cell?
2. Where is the DNA located in a prokaryotic cell?
3. What 3 parts make up a nucleotide?
4. Draw and label each part in question #3.
5. What is a nucleotide?
6. Study your DNA Paper model and answer the following questions:
a. How many nucleotides are in your DNA model?
b. What is the genetic code on the TEMPLATE strand?
c. What is the genetic code on the compliment strand?
7. What are the base pairing rules (Chargaff’s rules) for DNA?
8. What chemical bonds hold together the base pairs?
9. How many of the bonds (from question #8) hold together EACH base pair?
10. What is the different between a purine base and a pyrimidine base?
11. Which bases are the purines?
12. Which bases are the pyrimidines?
13. What parts of your DNA model make up the backbone of a DNA molecule?
14. What is the chemical bond that holds together this backbone? BE SPECIFIC!
15. Assume a 100 base pair DNA double helix contains 45 cytosines, how many adenines are there
in this double helix? Explain how you got this number.
Directions:
 Students will work in groups of 4.
 Each student in the lab group is responsible for coloring and cutting some of
the DNA pieces PRIOR to the lab. THIS IS A HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT!!!
o Group members must divide up the coloring/cutting work.
 NOTE: You will need the following numbers. You can cut more if you’d like!


a. 24 Phosphate groups
c. 6 Adenines
e. 6 Guanines
b. 24 Deoxyribose sugar
d. 6 Thymine
f. 6 Cytosines
Bring your cut pieces to class on the due date! Also bring any extra uncut
pieces in case you lose pieces or need extra pieces for any reason.
 NOTE: If you do not have your pieces cut and colored, you will
have to take time in class to do this and run the risk on turning in
an incomplete project/.
THE ENTIRE PROJECT AND ANALYSIS QUESTIONS ARE DUE AT THE END
OF CLASS!!!