1. PCR Puzzle
Class instructions

2. Start of lesson
Have the following at front of the class:
Template

3. Start of lesson continued
Primers
Bases

4. Correct base pairing is critical!
Green (Guanine) pairs with yellow (Cytosine)
Blue (Adenine) pairs with orange (Thymine)

5. The devil is in the detail!
The 5’ prime and 3’ prime ends of the bases must be round the right way!

6. Cycle 1 - denature Spilt class in two halves
Give one half one template strand
Give other half the other template strand

7. Students comes to front to get primer
One student from each group comes to front of class to get primer

8. Students comes to front to get primer
If they have double orange in their template, pick one double blue primer
The other group takes one green-blue primer

9. Cycle 1 - Anneal primer Each group adds primer to the template
Make sure 5’ to 3’ prime is correct!

10. Cycle 1 - extend Students take bases required to finish strand
And add the bases to complete the copy

11. Cycle 1 - observations
When finished filling in blanks, each group brings product to front of class and put on desk or floor

12. Cycle 1 - observations Make observations: How many copies do you get?
How many are just the target sequence (ie begin and end with primers)?

13. Cycle 2 - denature Split class into 4 quarters
Give each group a strand:

14. Cycle 2 – Anneal primer
Each group adds appropriate primer to the template strand
Make sure 5’ to 3’ prime correct way round!

15. Cycle 2 - extend
Students take it in turns to come to front to take matching base to add to template

16. Cycle 2 - observations
When finished filling in blanks, each group brings product to front of class and put on desk or floor

17. Cycle 2 - observations Make observations: How many copies do you get?
How many are just the target sequence (ie begin and end with primers)?

18. Cycle 3 - denature
Split class into 8 groups
Give each group a strand:

19. Cycle 3 – Anneal primer
Each group adds appropriate primer to the template strand
Make sure 5’ to 3’ prime correct way round!

20. Cycle 3 - extend
Students take it in turns to come to front to take matching base to add to template

21. Cycle 3 - observations
When finished filling in blanks, each group brings product to front of class and put on desk or floor

22. Cycle 3 - observations How many copies do you get?
How many are just the target sequence (ie begin and end with primers)?
What if anything, has happened to the template?
How many bases with red, black and white do you now have?