Code Breaker. TEACHER s NOTES

Transcript

1 TEACHER s NOTES Time: 50 minutes Learning Outcomes: To relate the genetic code to the assembly of proteins To summarize factors that lead to different types of mutations To distinguish among positive, neutral, and negative effects of mutations Background: This activity introduces students to the concept that DNA is a code, and that different mutations or changes can happen within the code that can have a positive, neutral, or negative effect. The students decipher instructions to make a pipe cleaner person. Materials: Pipe cleaners in two different colours Googley eyes (can be purchased from any craft store) Glue stick or glue gun Photocopies of coded pages 2-6 Procedure: 1. Assess background knowledge about DNA by asking class questions such as What is DNA?, What does DNA stand for?, Where is it found? etc. 2. Distribute one copy of a coded sheet to each person (or pairs). Distribute three pipe cleaners of one colour, one short piece of pipe cleaner of another colour, and two googley eyes to each person. 3. Emphasize to the class that their classmates have different codes and that they should only look at their own set of instructions. 4. Read scenario on top of coded sheets aloud. 5. Do the first step as a class, as everyone has the same first step. Tell students that the pipecleaners are not labeled, but that the instructions refers to each cleaner as A-C to make the instructions easier to follow. 6. Discussion after activity: Page 2 includes the full set of instructions, while page 3 omits part of step #8 (no eyes), page 4 is missing the first letter on step #7 so that the remainder of the instructions do not make sense (point deletion), and page 5 is missing steps 6-8. Ask students to compare and contrast the pipe cleaner people they have made, and relate them to the codes they were given. These mutations were deleterious. Ask students to brainstorm some neutral or positive mutations. Discuss the relationship between DNA, genes, proteins, etc. Extrapolate this activity to human DNA, and how mutations may or may not cause disease. 1

2 ANSWER KEY **Note: The people around you have found something different so it is important that you follow your directions only. 1 Take one pipe cleaner (A), and make a V. Twist a loop at the crest of the V. 2 Holding the loop, twist the arms 6 more times. 3 Coil another pipe cleaner (B) around a pen. 4 Slide the coil (B) onto the loop onto the twisted part of (A). 5 Cut a pipe cleaner (C) in half. Take one piece and slide it halfway through the loop (A). 6 Coil the other piece of pipe cleaner (C)) around a pen. Squish on top of the loop of (A). 7 Make small loops at the ends of each of the 4 straight parts. 8 Glue on eyes. Make a necktie that is looped from the other coloured pipe. 1

3 6 Χοιλ τηε οτηερ πιεχε οφ πιπε χλεανερ (Χ)) αρουνδ α πε ν. Σθυιση ον τοπ οφ τηε λοοπ 7 Μακε σµαλλ λοοπσ ατ τηε ενδσ οφ εαχη οφ τηε 4 στραι γητ παρτσ. 8 Γλυε ον εψεσ. Μακε α νεχκτιε τηατ ισ λοοπεδ φροµ τη ε οτηερ χολουρεδ πιπε. 2

4 6 Χοιλ τηε οτηερ πιεχε οφ πιπε χλεανερ (Χ)) αρουνδ α πε ν. Σθυιση ον τοπ οφ τηε λοοπ 7 Μακε σµαλλ λοοπσ ατ τηε ενδσ οφ εαχη οφ τηε 4 στραι γητ παρτσ. 8 Μακε α νεχκτιε τηατ ισ λοοπεδ φροµ τηε οτηερ χολουρ εδ πιπε. 3

5 6 Χοιλ τηε οτηερ πιεχε οφ πιπε χλεανερ (Χ)) αρουνδ α πε ν. Σθυιση ον τοπ οφ τηε λοοπ 7 Ακεσ µαλλ οοπσα ττ ηεε νδσο φε αχηο φτ ηε4σ τραιγητ π αρτσγ. 8 λυεο νε ψεσμ ακεαν εχκτιετ ηατι σλ οοπεδφ ροµτ ηεο τ ηερχ ολουρεδπ ιπε. 4

6 5