GenEng

English, Jami               Dyett Middle School
                            624-45l5
                      

Objectives:

Genetic Engineering will explore the basic structure of the DNA 
molecule, the pairing of base molecules, gene splicing, and re-
combining of DNA by chemically removing a segment of DNA from the 
nucleus of a cell, and inserting it into a plasmid for reproduction.   
 
Students will be able to identify the phosphate and sugar molecules of 
the DNA strand, pair off the base molecules correctly using a paper 
model, simulate the removal of DNA segments from a cell nucleus, 
simulate the chemical cutting or separation along the bases of a 
plasmid from a bacterium, inserting the donor strand of DNA and 
inserting the DNA into the plasmid so that it can reproduce with the 
new, donated characteristics provided by the inserted DNA. 

Apparatus Needed:
  
Duplicated pages (both sides) from "Splice of Life" (Teachers' Guide):
     Genetic Blueprint     DNA Replication        Splicing Life
     Find The Gene         Lab to Market Maze     Lab to Market
                           Glossary
Recommended Strategy:
 
1. Orally review the vocabulary listed on the Glossary page.
2. Oral reading of the Genetic Blueprint sheet and completion of 
   activity 2.1 to identify the phosphate and sugar molecules and 
   learn the base pairing rule, A to T and G to C.
3. Oral reading of activity 2.2 (Amino Acid Decoder) to learn which 
   DNA code for bases determines which amino acid.
4. Using a pre-cut DNA Replication sheet (activity 2.3) each group of 
   two students will pair off the "free" nucleotides with the unzipped 
   strands of DNA.
5. Oral reading of the Splicing Life sheet and completion of activity 
   3.1, matching the DNA strands to sites A, B, or C on the plasmid
   where the restriction enzymes have chemically cut the bases to 
   permit the simulation of inserting the donated strands of DNA.
6. Oral reading of activity 3.2 (Find the Gene) using the base pairing 
   rule to construct three (3) DNA  probes that will bond to the three 
   (3) DNA fragments given.
7. Additional activities (3.3 -Splicing Life Crossword and 4.2 - Lab
   To Market Maze) can be done by simply following the given 
   directions.