Chapter 6 : Constructing a Paper DNA Model

Abstract:

DNA is the genetic material of every living thing on earth. The information encoded in DNA determines the forms and functions of the cells of which each organism is composed and, ultimately, of the entire organism. Proteins are important because they are the molecules that carry out cellular activities, synthesize nonprotein cellular components, and form many cellular structures. The structure of DNA has to allow it to do two things. First, it has to be able to contain instructions for assembling proteins. Second, it has to be easily and accurately duplicated, so that when a cell divides, it can pass on a correct copy of its genetic information to each daughter cell. The DNA molecule is a double helix, which you can imagine as a ladder that has been twisted into a spiral. Watson and Crick, who discovered the structure of the DNA molecule, used cut-and-paste paper models to help them.