Lesson Plan Title: The Discovery of DNA
Concept/Topic to Teach: DNA Structure
Standards Addressed: Course of Study Objective 8
Identify the structure and function of DNA, RNA, and protein.
• Explaining relationships among DNA, genes, and chromosomes
• Listing significant contributions of biotechnology to society, including
agricultural and medical practices
Specific Objectives: The students will be able to discuss the research process Watson and Crick used to
develop their model of DNA, Understand the relationship of genes, chromosomes, and DNA, give
examples of various biotechnology processes using DNA, and the structure of DNA.
Required Materials:
Computer
Presentation Software (PowerPoint on the computer or from the following websites)
http://prezi.com/
http://www.presentationmagazine.com/presentation-software-the-top-ten-10-134.htm
http://www.sliderocket.com/
http://www.ilovefreesoftware.com/05/webware/5-free-online-presentation-software.html
http://edu.glogster.com
Teacher Zip Drive
Paper
Pen/Pencil
Promethean board and Pen
ActiveSlate
Textbook
YouTube Videos
The Secret of Life – Discovery of DNA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sf0YXnAFBs8
The Race for Life: The Discovery of the Structure of DNA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-mmjwXT5Dg
James Watson & DNA Structure Parts One and Two
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cwmzn8cqBo – Part One
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ankQHHKonAQ&feature=relmfu – Part Two
Resource Websites
http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/isolating-hereditary-material-frederick-griffithoswald-avery-336
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0012160604008231
http://www.brighthub.com/science/genetics/articles/41869.aspx
http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/discovery-of-dna-structure-and-function-watson397
http://www.dnajunction.com/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/leeds/hi/people_and_places/newsid_9228000/9228394.stm
http://www.nobelprize.org/educational/medicine/dna_double_helix/readmore.html
http://campus.udayton.edu/~hume/DNA/DNA.htm
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/06/3/l_063_01.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/do53dn.html
http://www.nobelprize.org/educational/medicine/dna_double_helix/
http://www.simsoup.info/Origin_Landmarks_DNA_Structure.html
http://biology.clc.uc.edu/courses/bio104/dna.htm
WebQuest on school intranet
Anticipatory Set (Lead-In): Review with students the information presented the day before about
Griffith, Avery, and Hershey and Chase.
Ask them:
What does DNA means to you?
What does it do?
Why is it important?
Who discovered its structure?
What impact did that have on biology?
How does all of this impact today’s society?
There will be discussion about each question. Students will give answers and they will be
written on the Promethean board directly or with ActiveSlate.
Step-By-Step Procedures for Teaching the Lesson:
1. After completing Anticipatory Set, introduce the WebQuest assignment.
2. Assign each student a number, 1-5.
3. All ones will be a group. All twos will be a group. All threes will be a group and so on.
4. Each student will be provided a copy of the WebQuest document on their computers (via the
school’s intranet server). They will be asked to access the document, and the document will be
displayed on the Promethean board. Read over it step-by-step.
5. Explain to the students they will be required to design a PowerPoint presentation or a
presentation using one of the suggested online software programs.
6. Review the rubric for assessment with them as well.
7. Ask if there are any questions and address them.
8. The students will then be allowed the rest of this class period and three more days to complete
the WebQuest.
9. Each day, at the beginning of class, go over the requirements of the assignment. Ask if any
students need any help. I will address these questions in front of the class in order to address
any questions students may have but do not want to ask.
10. Each day, address any questions as they arise.
11. On the third day of the project, remind students their presentation (PowerPoint or other
software program) is due at the end of the period. Review the rubric and make sure they
understand what is expected of them.
12. Remind them the assignment is due at the end of the period. No extra time will be allowed.
Guided Practice/Monitoring: Students will complete the WebQuest provided on the school intranet.
(see attachment)
Closure (Reflect Anticipatory Set): After students have completed the WebQuest on the discovery of
DNA, again ask the following questions.
What does DNA means to you?
What does it do?
Why is it important?
Who discovered its structure?
What impact did that have on biology?
How does all of this impact today’s society?
There should be a measurable difference in the responses AFTER completing the WebQuest
from before.
Assessment Based on Objectives: The students will be able to discuss the research process Watson and
Crick used to develop their model of DNA, Understand the relationship of genes,
chromosomes, and DNA, provide examples of various biotechnology processes using DNA,
and the structure of DNA with 80% accuracy.
Adaptations (For Students With Special Needs): Students with IEPs will be placed with average or above
average students to allow those students to have the best advantage in completing this
assignment.
Extensions (For Advanced Students): Advanced students will be asked to explore at least one topic of
biotechnology that has developed from the discovery of DNA. These students will develop a
presentation for classroom discussion.
Possible Connections to Other Subjects: Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Forensics
Reflection: The WebQuest was a very successful assignment. The students learned about the discovery
of the structure of DNA while enjoying “surfing” the internet. They were also introduced to the field of
biotechnology through the videos. I felt the students really enjoyed this assignment.
The Development of the First Model of the Structure of DNA
A WebQuest
Deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA stores all of our hereditary information. It determines what
proteins are made, when they are made, our eye color, our height, and much, much more! Today
the structure of DNA is common knowledge. But in 1953, it was a mystery!
For the next three days, you are going to pretend to be James Watson and Francis Crick… You
are going to search the internet (WOW, how I bet they would have LOVED to be able to get
their information THAT easily!) for scientists that studied the structure of DNA before them.
You are going to research scientific papers and articles to find everything you can about the
structure of DNA BEFORE it was determined by Watson and Crick.
Here is the assignment:
1. Watch the YouTube videos on the discovery of DNA.
2. Answer the questions following the links to the videos.
3. Research the internet, (NO WIKIPEDIA! ONLY valid scientific or biographical
sources!) and find at least eight scientists that contributed to Watson and Crick’s DNA
model. You will learn some through watching the videos.
4. Design a PowerPoint presentation and tell how the scientists contributed to their DNA
model in your presentations. Include at least 8 pictures and/or graphics. Reference your
sources by providing the website from which you obtained the information or graphic.
NO PLAGARISM!
Step One:
Watch the following videos.
The Secret of Life – Discovery of DNA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sf0YXnAFBs8
The Race for Life: The Discovery of the Structure of DNA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-mmjwXT5Dg
James Watson & DNA Structure Parts One and Two
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cwmzn8cqBo – Part One
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ankQHHKonAQ&feature=relmfu – Part Two
Step Two:
Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
1. Why is DNA important to us?
2. What did you learn from the four different videos? List at least three things and explain.
3. Tell me three different areas that DNA is used for currently.
4. Concerning Mr. James Watson’s videos, please tell me two things you found interesting.
Expand on why you found it interesting!
Step Three: Research
Research the structure of DNA. Search the scientists involved. I am listing a few websites to
check out! REMEMBER… No Wikipedia!!! It is not a valid source!!! Here are some
suggested resources, but this is NOT comprehensive!!! You may find other websites!!!
http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/isolating-hereditary-material-frederick-griffithoswald-avery-336
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0012160604008231
http://www.brighthub.com/science/genetics/articles/41869.aspx
http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/discovery-of-dna-structure-and-function-watson-397
http://www.dnajunction.com/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/leeds/hi/people_and_places/newsid_9228000/9228394.stm
http://www.nobelprize.org/educational/medicine/dna_double_helix/readmore.html
http://campus.udayton.edu/~hume/DNA/DNA.htm
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/06/3/l_063_01.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/do53dn.html
http://www.nobelprize.org/educational/medicine/dna_double_helix/
http://www.simsoup.info/Origin_Landmarks_DNA_Structure.html
http://biology.clc.uc.edu/courses/bio104/dna.htm
Step Four:
CREATE YOUR POWERPOINT!!!!
I want you to BE CREATIVE!!!! Make it AWESOME!!! Show me what you found and
present it in a cool way! I want to see what you can do!!!  If you want to get REALLY
special, there are presentation software programs online that are a little more high-tech than
PowerPoint! I will list links below. I will attach a rubric to this assignment so you know how I
will be grading this.. THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!!!
http://prezi.com/ ABSOLUTELY AWESOME AFTER YOU FIGURE IT OUT!!!
http://www.presentationmagazine.com/presentation-software-the-top-ten-10-134.htmyour
http://www.sliderocket.com/
http://www.ilovefreesoftware.com/05/webware/5-free-online-presentation-software.html
http://edu.glogster.com
You will HAVE to present your presentation with your group!!! So, be prepared!!!
REMEMBER… You only have three days for this assignment!!
The Discovery of the
Structure of DNA
Contributing Scientists
Friedrich Miescher
 Phoebus Levene
 Frederick Griffith
 Oswald Avery
 William Astbury
 Alfred Hershey and Martha Chase
 Rosalind Franklin and Raymond Gosling
 Erwin Chargaff
 Maurice Wilkins
 James Watson and Francis Crick

Friedrich Miescher
The first scientist to isolate DNA
 Tried dissolving it in substances that
would dissolve proteins. Didn’t work, so
determined this substance was new or
“novel”
 Called it Nuclein

Phoebus Levene
Discovered the composition of RNA from
yeast and 20 years later DNA from the
thymus
 Discovered sugar in RNA was ribose and
sugar in DNA is deoxyribose
 Nucleotides – phosphate/sugar/base

Frederick Griffith
Discovered bacterial transformation
using Streptococcus pneumoniae
 Realized there was a transforming
compound that came from the virulent
bacteria that survived heat treatment

Oswald Avery and
colleagues
Proved the transforming particle was
DNA
 Used compounds that destroy proteins,
RNA, and DNA on the transforming
particle.
 The only time transformation
was stopped was when
they used the compound
that destroyed DNA.

William Astbury
First to analyze DNA for its structure
 Found the following

› Had regular structure
› Repeated every 2.7 nanometers
› Bases lay flat, stacked, and 0.34 nanometers
apart
Alfred Hershey and
Martha Chase
Used bacteriophage T2 to determine if
transforming agent was protein or DNA
 Radiolabeled proteins with 35S and
radiolabeled DNA 32P so they could
follow the proteins and DNA
 Proved DNA was the transforming agent

Rosalind Franklin and
Raymond Gosling
Together produced the first X-Ray
diffraction photographs of the DNA
molecule
 Watson and Crick used their data to
formulate their model of DNA’s structure

Erwin Chargaff
Discovered that in each DNA molecule,
there was the same amount of cytosine
as guanine present and the same
amount of adenine as thymine present.
 “Chargaff’s Rule” – adenine pairs with
thymine and guanine pairs with cytosine

Maurice Wilkins
Studied the orientation of purines and
pyrimidines in DNA
 Developed well-define X-Ray diffraction
photographs of the DNA molecule that
led to Watson and Crick’s model

James Watson
and
Francis Crick
The pair developed the 3-dimensional
structure of the DNA molecule
 Used Chargaff’s studies along with Franklin
& Gosling and Wilkins X-Ray diffraction
photographs to complete their model

Nobel Prize in Physiology or
Medicine in 1962
Awarded to James Watson, Francis
Crick, and Maurice Wilkins for
developing the structure of DNA
 Rosalind Franklin would have been
awarded this Nobel Prize as well, but she
passed away

References
DNA Image
http://www.nchpeg.org/bssr/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=86:how-isgenetic-information-stored?&Itemid=126
Friedrich Miescher Photograph
http://www.dnaftb.org/15/bio.html
Phoebus Levene Photograph
http://people.ibest.uidaho.edu/~etop/vgp/plasmidHistory/dnaHistOutline.html
Frederick Griffith Photograph
http://www.dnajunction.com/history/dna-inheritance.php
Picture of Griffith’s Experiment
https://filebox.vt.edu/users/mahogan2/Filebox%20Portfolio/Webquest%20for%20DNA.htm
Oswald Avery Photograph
https://filebox.vt.edu/users/mahogan2/Filebox%20Portfolio/Webquest%20for%20DNA.htm
William Astbury Photograph
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/leeds/hi/people_and_places/newsid_9228000/9228394.stm
Hershey and Chase Photograph
http://www.lifesciencesfoundation.org/eventsThe_HersheyChase_blender_experiment.html
References (continued)
Rosalind Franklin Photograph
http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=new-play-tells-the-story-ofrosalin-2009-03-10
Franklin and Gosling’s X-Ray Crystallography Photograph
http://www.siam.org/news/news.php?id=381
Raymond Gosling Photograph
http://dnaandsocialresponsibility.blogspot.com/2010/09/dna-story-at-kings-hidden-dnaworkers.html
Erwin Chargaff Photograph
http://history.nih.gov/exhibits/nirenberg/popup_htm/03_chargoff.htm
Maurice Wilkins Photograph
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1962/wilkins-bio.html
Watson and Crick Photograph
http://www.sciencephoto.com/media/222784/view
Information on Griffith, Avery, Hershey, and Chase
http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/isolating-hereditary-material-frederickgriffith-oswald-avery-336
Information on Friedrich Miescher
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0012160604008231
References (continued)
Information on Chargaff
http://www.macroevolution.net/erwin-chargaff.html
Information on Levene
http://www.macroevolution.net/erwin-chargaff.html
Information on Astbury
http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/William_Astbury/id/1989284
Information on Watson and Crick
http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/discovery-of-dna-structure-and-functionwatson-397
Information on Franklin and Gosling
http://sandwalk.blogspot.com/2007/07/franklin-gosling-nature-paper-1953.html
Rubric for Watson and Crick WebQuest
Questions Answered
(Possible 20 points-#12pts., #2-8pts., #3-6pts.,
#4-4pts.)
Sources are Referenced
(20 points)
Eight pictures or
graphics are included
(20 points)
Eight scientists that
contributed to Watson
and Crick’s development
of the model of DNA
(20 points)
20
Points
All questions
answered
appropriately in
complete sentences.
Websites are given
for all resources
used and all
pictures/graphics
used.
All
pictures/graphics
are present
All eight scientists
were included
Presentation shows
great creativity and
effort. Presentation
software was used.
All elements
present.
15
Points
POINTS WILL
VARY BASED
ON POINTS
VALUES
LISTED!
Missing 1-3
resources
10
Points
POINTS WILL
VARY BASED
ON POINTS
VALUES
LISTED!
Missing 4-6
resources
5
Points
POINTS WILL
VARY BASED
ON POINTS
VALUES
LISTED!
Missing 7-9
resources
Missing 1-2
pictures or
graphics
Missing 1-2
scientists
Missing 3-4
pictures or
graphics
Missing 3-4
pictures or
graphics
Missing 5-7
pictures or
graphics
Missing 5-7
pictures or
graphics
0
Points
No questions
were answered
Score
Missing 10 or
more resources
No
pictures/graphics
included
Missing all
scientists
Presentation shows Presentation shows Presentation shows
Presentation
great creativity and
moderate
moderate
shows moderate
effort. Presentation
creativity and
creativity and
creativity and
Creativity and Use of
software was used.
effort.
effort.
effort.
PowerPoint
Missing 1-3
Presentation
Presentation
Presentation
(20 points)
elements.
software used.
software used.
software used.
Missing 4-6
Missing 7-9
Missing 10 or
elements.
elements.
more elements.
Comments: __________________________________________________________________________________________________
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