The CD contains 70 three dimensional DNA structures along with software for structure-viewing, hands-on activities, and animated tutorials as a guide. The lab manual is included on the CD, but we have found that students do better if they have the lab manual in printed form to use as they work.

Learning activities in Exploring DNA Structure are aligned with and meet the criteria established in the National Science Education Standards.

Form: CD-ROM

Publication date: April 2005
ISBN 0-976-3946-1-2

The Exploring DNA Structure CD-ROM contains everything you need to start exploring molecular models of DNA structures.

The Exploring DNA Structure CD contains:

• 70 different structures of DNA, with and without other molecules. Some of the other molecules in the structures are anti-cancer drugs, carcinogens, and proteins. Interesting structures like telomeres and loop structures provide unique opportunities for learning.
  
  
• Animated tutorials that demonstrate different ways to view structures and highlight important features.
  
  Example tutorial
  
  
• The widely-used molecular modeling program, Cn3D, developed by researchers at the NCBI. Cn3D is easy to use and provides a number of ways for looking at molecular structures. Cn3D can be used to view any structure in the Molecular Modeling Database in the NCBI.
  
  
• The Exploring DNA Structure lab manual with links to different structures. This can also be obtained in printed form.

Features:

• Guided activities help students to view structures in different ways and highlight different aspects of each structure. What will students see? check out an example.
  
  
• Inquiry-driven activities provide students with the opportunity to research different structures, thus testing their understanding of the structure and helping them learn how to find and use scientific information from national databases.
  
  
• Worksheets allow students to organize their results in systematic manner and test their understanding by labeling parts of DNA molecules.
  
  
• Students develop an in-depth understanding of the structure of DNA and gain insight into the ways that other molecules, such as proteins and antibiotics, use the three dimensional DNA structure as a guide for binding and activity.
  

Acrobat Reader® is required to view the examples listed below. Download Acrobat Reader.

1. Table of Contents (.pdf) requires Acrobat Reader to view.

2. Example activity (.pdf)

3. Example worksheet (.pdf)