Discovering DNA @babrahaminst

Learning outcomes All students will: Carry out an experiment scientifically Most students will: Explain what DNA is Some students will: Describe what DNA does, where it was discovered, and why scientists research it Key word/s DNA, experiment, Watson, Crick, Franklin

What is DNA? DNA stands for DeoxyriboNucleic Acid It is a set of instructions or a ‘recipe’ for every living thing How to make an elephant DNA CC images: Elephant - http://www.publicdomainfiles.com/show_file.php?id=13932784211733 Recipe card - https://www.flickr.com/photos/dmcordell/16060790984

What does it do? DNA contains genes Genes determine what you look like Hair and eye colour Height Blood type They are inherited from your parents CC image: Family - https://pixabay.com/en/family-children-sunset-silhouette-730320/

DNA - who, when and where? Watson and Crick (1953) In Cambridge But don’t forget Rosalind Franklin! CC images: Cambridge - http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/849300 Rosalind Franklin - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rosalind_Franklin.jpg

What does DNA look like? The DNA molecule looks like a twisted ladder, or a spiral staircase Its shape has a special name – a ‘double helix’ CC image DNA GIF https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA#/media/File:ADN_animation.gif

What does DNA contain? Four chemical units Adenine (A) Guanine (G) Thymine (T) Cytosine (C) A ‘spine’ of sugar and phosphates CC - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DNA_chemical_structure.svg

? Where is it found? In practically every cell in your body CC images Skeleton - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Human_skeleton_(svg_template).svg Muscle – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Muscular_system.svg Circulatory system – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arterial_System_-_partial.svg Nervous system - https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plik:Nervous_system_diagram_unlabeled.svg

Where is it found? …in your body …in cells …in the nucleus CC Human DNA - https://pixabay.com/en/dna-deoxyribonucleic-acid-people-2789567/ Chromosomes - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Diagram_of_a_chromosome_in_a_cell_CRUK_019.svg ….in chromosomes …is DNA!

How big is it? If all 46 chromosomes from a human cell were uncoiled and placed end to end, the DNA would be: 2 metres long 2 billionths of a metre wide CC Chromosomes - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Diagram_of_a_chromosome_in_a_cell_CRUK_019.svg

How much DNA do we have? …over 800 times! If the DNA from every cell in your body was put end to end, it would reach to the moon and back… …over 800 times! CC: Moon - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon

How similar is your DNA to…. …a banana? 50% …me? Add picture here 99.9% CC Banana - http://res.publicdomainfiles.com/pdf_view/1/13488721229077.png Chimpanzee - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chimpanzee-Head.jpg …a chimpanzee? 98%

Why learn about DNA? Some diseases are caused by faulty DNA Gene transfer helps to make proteins, such as the one that makes blood clot Genetically-modified (GM) crops can resist pest attacks or weed-killers

Looking at strawberry DNA Collect cells From strawberries Break them open Using detergent and salt Condense the DNA With alcohol See recipe sheet for instructions CC: Strawberry - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Strawberries.jpg

Recap What does DNA look like? Who discovered the shape of the DNA molecule? Where was the discovery announced? And when? What is in the DNA molecule? Where is DNA found? Where do you get your DNA from? What does DNA do? How similar is human DNA to banana DNA? How similar is human DNA to monkey DNA? How similar is your DNA to my DNA?