Name: _______________________
Date: _____________Period: _____
Lab: Making a Model of DNA
Objectives:
- To make a model of DNA
- To match up complementary bases
Materials:
- Scissors
- clear tape
- colored pencils
Procedures:
1. Find the page with the DNA monomers (building blocks). Color both sides of the
monomers. Color the parts as follows:
Deoxyribose: dark blue
Adenine: orange
Cytosine: light blue
Thymine: yellow
Phosphoric Acid: purple/violet
Guanine: yellow-green
2. Cut out the DNA monomers on the solid line (don’t cut on the dotted lines). Put your nucleotides in a safe
place.
3. Before you tape anything, place half of your monomers on your desk all facing the same direction. Put them
together by connecting the parts that make up the backbone (sides of the ladder). The order of the bases
does not matter at this time.
4. When you are absolutely sure you have the nucleotides placed correctly, call your teacher over
to double check. Ms. Pastor will stamp/initial in the circle when you are ready to tape them
together.
5. The remaining nucleotides will face the opposite direction as the first set. (Don’t tape yet!) place the
monomers so that its “base” matches its complimentary base on the first strand. When you have all the
remaining bases matched up correctly, then you can tape the complimentary bases together, and tape the
backbone pieces together.
Congratulations!
You have now made a model of the DNA molecule. Your teacher may have everyone tape their DNA models
together making a really long molecule that can be twisted into a coiled DNA molecule.
Lab: Making a model of DNA
Analysis & Conclusions:
1. What does DNA stand for? ________________________________________________________________
2. To what class of compounds does DNA belong? Hint: it is not a lipid, a protein, nor a carbohydrate)
______________________________________________________________________________________
3. What are the monomers that make up DNA called? _____________________________________________
4. Each monomer is made up of what three parts? _____________________, _________________________,
and _____________________.
5. What sugar is in DNA?____________________________________________________________________
6. Which two parts make up the backbone (sides) of DNA?
_______________________ & _______________________
7. What group makes up the rungs or steps of DNA? ______________________________________________
8. What 4 bases are found in DNA? _____________________, _____________________,
_____________________, and _____________________,
9. Show how the bases pair up by completing the figure below:
10. What is the shape of DNA called? __________________________________________________________
11. What type of bonds hold the bases together? _________________________________________________
These bonds make DNA zip and unzip (with difficulty/easily)  circle one.
12. List 4-5 similarities and 1 difference between your DNA and your partner’s.
Similarities (4-5)
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
Important Difference
____________________________