Day 19 -- Visual DNA

Mr. Quick's plan was to show us DNA replication through paper cutting and taping, etc. It worked incredibly well, and I think it will definitely increase my knowledge of the subject in the future.

We were given the menial task of cutting out small Guanines, Thymines, Adenines, and Cytosines from paper, and taping them together with their pairs. When they had finally been completed, we started the process of DNA replication by making an incision in one of the strands to represent the starting point. We acted out the processes of Helicase, DNA Polymerase III and I, Ligase, and Primase to create a brand new double-strand of DNA, which me and John hung on the glass cabinet. 

Most of the discussion revolved around the structure of DNA. We discussed the the phosphates and sugars, along with the phosphodiester bonds, and their connections during the process of DNA replication. During the replication process, the hydrogen bonds between the left and rights strands are detached by the Helicase instead of the PH bonds. (With the attachment of RNA to prime it, PH bonds are attached.)


(Chapter 6 Summary Here)