Name Alaysia Leary_______________________________________ Date March 30, 2016_______

Cracking the DNA Code

Use the following website, http://www.dnai.org , to complete this activity about the research that lead to the discovery of
DNAs structure.

Click on Code from the menu on the website first page; then, click on Finding the Structure.
Using the Problem Section, answer the following questions:
1. How did Mieschers discovery contribute to our knowledge of DNA?
2. Which tool of science assisted Miescher in his discovery? How was the tool useful?
A microscope. It made the cells visible.
3. After Miescher, other scientists determined the nuclein contained lots of .
Protein.
4. Eventually DNA was determined to be a long chain that contained
Molecule, made up of four different nucleotides, ribose sugar, and phosphate
5. Which molecule, DNA or protein, carries the information of hereditary? Who and how was this
determined?
DNA. Oswald Averys group.
Using the Players and Pieces of the Puzzle Sections, provide a short summary of the contribution
of each of the following scientists to the structure of DNA.
Erwin Chargaff Opinionated researcher, not known to be kind to upstairs. You had better know
your chemistry before talking to him.
Rosalind Franklin The X-ray crystallographic expert, hired for her skills and known to be
methodical. Dont call her Rosy!
Linus Pauling Well-known chemist with a big reputation. He had already solved the structure of
one molecule.
James Watson and Francis Crick James: Young American in Cambridge, brash, non-traditional
and known to read newspaper during seminars. Francis: Older British hold on the team; the man
with the ideas whos not shy about sharing them.
Maurice Wilkins Shy, retiring type, with a dry sense of humor. Known around the lab as the elder
statesman.

Modeling Instruction - AMTA

Unit 5 Cell Structure and Function