Hypermedia Integration - Discovering DNA
Engage and Recall - What and Why?
Stated Clearly - What is DNA - This is a big picture video for the whole unit on DNA to protein to trait. It recalls information we already covered - basics of nucleic acids and proteins and cell structure and gives the overarching plan for the unit. I have used this video to introduce the entire DNA unit for the past two years. 18 Things You Should Know About Genetics It is a fast-paced listing of really intriguing facts about DNA and genes. It names DNA, the basic compounds that compose DNA, its size and its relevance. Students are most astonished by the idea that they share more than 99% of their DNA sequence everyone else. Breaking the Code - National Geographic introduces the idea of DNA as a code with four nucleotide letters and then extends that to analogy of chromosomes as a book whose sequence of letters dictate the story as our DNA code dictates our traits. I like this video because I teach a similar analogy of chromosomes as a set of cookbooks for an organism, inside each cookbook are recipes for proteins called genes. Each person has a slightly different set of 20,000+ recipes resulting in our unique traits.
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History and Evidence - How do we know what we know about DNA?
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DNA from the Beginning's Molecules of Genetics is probably one of the best sites for high school students to learn about the experiments that led to the discovery of DNA as the hereditary molecule and the central dogma of biology (DNA gene > RNA > protein). The site is rich with animated tours that introduce the scientists and science behind our knowledge of DNA. I find the concept reading paired with the animation section most useful, but have also used the scientist interviews in the video section. I have used concepts 15, 19 and 22 in my biology class. (video not embedded)
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DNA from the Beginning's Molecules of Genetics is probably one of the best sites for high school students to learn about the experiments that led to the discovery of DNA as the hereditary molecule and the central dogma of biology (DNA gene > RNA > protein). The site is rich with animated tours that introduce the scientists and science behind our knowledge of DNA. I find the concept reading paired with the animation section most useful, but have also used the scientist interviews in the video section. I have used concepts 15, 19 and 22 in my biology class. (video not embedded)
Cracking the Code: The DNA Obsession - We have this video in our library series and it covers many of the experiments that led to our knowledge of DNA with animated vignettes in a very straightforward, easy to understand way. It also shows how science is a human endeavor and subject to the perceptions and interactions between people, especially the conflicts between Franklin, Wilkins, Watson and Crick. I show this video after the we have done reviewed the experiments that confirmed DNA as the genetic molecule because it ties those experiments to our current understanding and leads directly to studying the structure of DNA.
The Secret of Photo 51 - This full length video from NOVA is the semi-tragic story of Rosalind Franklin and her seminal role in the discovery of DNA. A female scientist in a competing lab, she took the groundbreaking crystallograph of DNA that Watson and Crick depended upon to complete their model - without her knowledge! Unfortunately, she died of cancer before credit would be recognized. I have shown this video in class or as an extra-credit assignment with open-ended essay questions. Again, the idea that science does not occur in a vacuum, but is influenced by personality, biases, conflicts and competition. There are also great extensions at the PBS site, including "Anatomy of Photo 51", an flash tour explaining the science behind the photo.
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The Chemical Structure of DNA - What is the structure of DNA?
What is DNA? Learn.Genetics has a great interactive video tour that takes a student from a body, to a cell, to a nucleus, to a chromosome. It provides basic detail about the structure of DNA including the double helix, the nucleotides, and base pairing rules. Further the connection from DNA sequence to gene to protein.
ScienceNet Links DNA - this video really shows how DNA is packaged within the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell and is the type of resource I would have within my class presentation. Its animation makes it much easier for students to appreciate the levels of macro-structure in DNA than a static textbook graphic does.
What is DNA? Learn.Genetics has a great interactive video tour that takes a student from a body, to a cell, to a nucleus, to a chromosome. It provides basic detail about the structure of DNA including the double helix, the nucleotides, and base pairing rules. Further the connection from DNA sequence to gene to protein.
ScienceNet Links DNA - this video really shows how DNA is packaged within the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell and is the type of resource I would have within my class presentation. Its animation makes it much easier for students to appreciate the levels of macro-structure in DNA than a static textbook graphic does.
Bozeman Biology What is DNA - Paul Anderson is one of my go-to resources for absent students, supplements to class time or review. This video could be easily applied to a flipped classroom in place of traditional lecture; it is very similar to what I present in class.
The Chemical Structure of DNA from BioInteractive - short video covering the chemical compounds that are bonded to form DNA and stresses the complementary nature of the two DNA strands. (video not embedded) DNA Structure and Replication: Crash Course Biology - Hank Green is very interesting presenter and I will often post his videos to my course site for absent students or to supplement in class work. In this lesson, I would only use the video through 9:18, although DNA replication is the next lesson. DNA Chemical structure - very straightforward look at the chemistry and structure of DNA with good visuals. It is one of the few short videos that include the hydrogen bonding between base pairs and overall negativity of DNA due to phosphates. (video not embedded) |
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Practice - Build DNA models
These are all decent sites to teach basic base pairing rules before building physical models in class.
PBS 3D DNA explorer - interactive DNA molecule model allows students to freely manipulate views and isolate components
Build a DNA molecule. Learn. Genetics - practice base pairing rules by building a complementary strand of DNA to the one given. This is a very straightforward drill and practice activity is reinforces the rules and provides a visual of the DNA strand twisting on the helix. I would use as a 3-5 minute practice activity.
Build a DNA molecule GIZMO - purchased simulation to build DNA molecules form nucleosides and phosphates. Lessons and interactives included.
DNA The Double Helix Nobelprize.org - game to match the complimentary base pairs as quickly as possible and identify the organism from its DNA. Extension for practicing base pairing rules. This would engage students who quickly mastered the Learn.Genetics
These are all decent sites to teach basic base pairing rules before building physical models in class.
PBS 3D DNA explorer - interactive DNA molecule model allows students to freely manipulate views and isolate components
Build a DNA molecule. Learn. Genetics - practice base pairing rules by building a complementary strand of DNA to the one given. This is a very straightforward drill and practice activity is reinforces the rules and provides a visual of the DNA strand twisting on the helix. I would use as a 3-5 minute practice activity.
Build a DNA molecule GIZMO - purchased simulation to build DNA molecules form nucleosides and phosphates. Lessons and interactives included.
DNA The Double Helix Nobelprize.org - game to match the complimentary base pairs as quickly as possible and identify the organism from its DNA. Extension for practicing base pairing rules. This would engage students who quickly mastered the Learn.Genetics
Closure - Why did we learn this and what is next?
Both of these videos help re-establish relevance and begin connecting DNA structure to gene function.
The twisting tale of DNA - Judith Hauck - This Ted-ed video also uses the book analogy, gives a detailed review of the chemical structure, and reconnects the idea of nucleotide sequences with genes and proteins. It also alludes to the idea of mutation, or changes in the DNA sequence, and relatedness. DNA: The book of you - Joe Hanson - This is a new video from Ted-ed that also uses the analogy of the DNA as a book, but adds hints about heredity, chromosome pairing and gene expression. |
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