A pinch of adenine, a dash of thymine and ta-da, you have life! Well, it's not quite that simple, but through this series of activities and experiments young scientists learn about the structure of DNA and how it contains the recipe...

In order to understand DNA fingerprinting, advanced biology aces divise a crime scenario and analyze three different samples of lambda DNA. This creative lesson plan provides practice with micropipettes, electrophoresis boxes, and other...

For scholars tired of reading the textbook, this unit includes nine hands-on lessons. Through group work, lab activities, experiments, and even one inquiry-based lesson, scholars apply knowledge about cells, genetics, and...

Learners work in cooperative groups of four and manipulate paper nucleotides to discover the structure of DNA. They model DNA and sing the DNA song to review concepts. Lyrics to song included in lesson plan.

Learners create models of DNA and RNA using string and beads. They use beads representing the four nitrogenous bases of DNA to create a portion of a strand of DNA, and it's corresponding RNA. Then, young scholars examine how many of...

Investigate the relationships between different deep-sea organisms by DNA sequencing. A worksheet provides instructions for DNA sequencing and space to work. They simulate gel electrophoresis by cutting out paper "DNA strands."...

Share their opinions on the use of DNA databases in criminal investigations. After reading an article, they evaluate the pros and cons of the databases and work in groups to answer discussion questions. They write a letter to a state...

Biologists extract the DNA from a strawberry. After completing the procedure, learners write answers to a few questions on the lab sheet provided. This is ideal lab practice during a DNA unit in your general biology course. 

Young scholars list three descriptive characteristics and three functions of DNA, describe two ways that genetics is important in a forensic investigation, and list the four major human blood types.

Young scholars role play an honorary detective to assist in solving a crime committed. They investigate by a bank robbery and interview eyewitnesses using their Crime Investigation Notebook and clues from an eyewitness account from the...

Students observe their own DNA. For this DNA lesson, students learn the simple method of DNA extraction and explain why DNA extraction is important to scientists.

Students study the basic function of DNA and then extract it from strawberries. In this DNA extraction lesson students examine DNA and see why the extraction of it is so important to scientists. 

Students isolate DNA from kiwi cells, spool DNA from a kiwi, describe role of the DNA and genes, and explain how knowledge of DNA and genes can be used in genetically modifying foods.

Time for the reveal! The nineth lesson of the series of 18 has scholars compare DNA fingerprints of cats to their samples to identify the father of Sparky's kittens from previous lessons. They analyze the DNA bands to determine the match.

Find similarities in seemingly unlike organisms. The second instructional activity in a series of 12 builds the concept of a taxonomy and explores the use of a dichotomous key. Learners begin in part one by attempting to group a set of...

Think like an engineer and an agricultural scientist over the course of 12 lessons in a STEM based unit. Young scientists take on the roles of animal physiologists, animal geneticists, agricultural engineers, animal nutritionists,...

Students investigate different purposes for manipulating DNA. After reviewing the structure and functions of DNA, students explore topics related to the use or manipulation of DNA and the potential benefits and problems, later making a...

DNA is the code for all biological traits, both plant and animal. Using an exploratory lesson, learners begin to explore the concept of a biological code by decoding word puzzles. They then extract DNA from plant cells using detergent to...

Tenth graders research the history and discovery of DNA. Using their text, they label a basic DNA structure and the composition of genes. They explain how RNA and DNA differ from one other and discuss the processes of transcription and...

Students apply measurement skills using the metric system. They explain the process of isolating DNA from other cell contents. They apply knowledge of cell structure to explain the process of isolating DNA.

Students ligate fragments of genomic DNA from spinach into a vector plasmid. They perform a restriction enzyme digestion. Student use a ligated DNA molecule to transform E. coli cells. Students analyze their procedures and outcome of...

Students model recombination in DNA. They color the DNA sample and cut it out. Students use their "restriction enzymes" to cut the DNA into specific fragments. They separate the fragments using the "gel electrotrophoresis." Students...

Students will first extract genomic DNA from spinach and perform a restriction enzyme digestion on both the spinach DNA and the plasmid using the same restriction enzyme. They then ligate the cut plasmid DNA with the cut spinach DNA in...

Silver: more than jewelry, it's also a natural antimicrobial agent. An inquiry-based lesson asks collaborative groups to design and implement an experiment to test this property. Using samples of silver nanoparticles and a strain of...