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: printed lab manual/workbook

Publication date: April 2005
93 pages, wire-O bound
ISBN 0-9763846-0-4

Exploring DNA Structure is a lab manual and workbook that uses molecular modeling as a tool for engaging students in exploring the structure of DNA. This manual is designed to accompany the "Exploring DNA Structure" CD-ROM; however it can be used as a stand-alone guide for working with Cn3D and any DNA structure obtained from the Molecular Modeling database at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).

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)