3-D DNA Double Helix Models are Complete! The students submitted their final DNA models today! They all looked great and it is clear the students spent a lot of time and effort assembling their models. After showing off the models, we then entered a discussion of DNA sequencing and genetic engineering - is it good or is it bad? What are the ethics involved?
After watching the above video segments, we discussed the implications of genetic engineering. Maybe learning about the probability of someone experiencing heart disease or diabetes could come in handy as a means of proactive and preventative health care. Maybe genetically engineering the "perfect" child could cause a huge societal rift and be deemed unethical. We also discussed the now famous BRCA gene (view link) as well as P53 (view link) and their connections to cancer research and treatment. Either way you looked at it, there was always an argument of - just because we can do something... does that necessarily mean we should do something?
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DNA Paper Models! Our class DNA strand was completed today and we finished with 206 nucleotide base pairs! That may seem big... but 206 nucleotides is only about 0.00000006% of a normal human DNA strand which includes 3 billion base pairs! Once we finished constructing our DNA paper models, we began working on our DNA model project. Students were given the majority of the class period to either work independently or in small groups to create and engineer a model of DNA. Thus far, the progress has been great and there are some great looking models in the making!
ASAPScience Olympic videos below the break! (Click Read More to the right)
Were you able to Celebrate your Learning? Following our Unit 5: Cellular Division Celebration of Learning, students were provided a DNA information packet to serve as a general baseline introduction to our next unit - DNA, RNA, and Protein Synthesis! Over the next couple of weeks, we will be learning about the organizational structure of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid). Once a strong level of understanding of the structure is established, we will begin to investigate the processes in which DNA replicates and, eventually, forms proteins. At the end of class, students were introduced to our next big project - creating DNA models! On block day, students will be asked to bring supplies to begin their construction. They will be able to work independently or in small groups. Bonus points will be awarded for the largest, smallest, and most creative models!
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Mr. Hulse
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October 2014
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