teacher’s guide for: dnarock-it science teacher’s guide dna -- page 2 intro quick recap: •...

Contents:

Quick Reference Sheets:• Intro: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page2• Experiment:DNA Extraction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page3• EquipmentList:DNA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page5• Story,Part1:The Invisible Minion Heist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page6• Story,Ending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page7

Video Transcript:• Intro: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page8• Story,Part1:The Invisible Minion Heist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page10• Experiment:DNA Extraction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page13• StoryEnding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page17

Teacher’s Guide for:

DNANote: All activities in this document should be performed with adult supervision. Likewise, common sense and care are essential to the conduct of any and all activities, whether described in this document or otherwise. Parents or guardians should supervise children. Rock-it Science assumes no responsibility for any injuries or damages arising from any activities.

Note: All activities in this document should be performed with adult supervision. Likewise, common sense and care are essential to the conduct of any and all activities, whether described in this document or otherwise. Parents or guardians should supervise children. Rock-it Science assumes no responsibility for any injuries or damages arising from any activities.

DNAARock-itScienceLessonFilmedNovember,2009

Title Page of Video

NOTE: This is the transcript of a lesson that was videotaped during an actual Rock-it Science class with real students, not actors. The students’ brainstorming comments are included on the video but are not transcribed here because they’re not part of the lesson presentation.

Rock-it Science2110 Walsh Ave, Unit FSanta Clara, CA 95050www.rockitscience.org

(c) 2013 Rock-it Science Educationally Useful Programs. All Rights Reserved

http://www.rockitscience.com/

Rock-it Science Teacher’s Guide DNA --

Intro Quick Recap:

• TherearecloudsovertheUrf .Cloudshavenegativechargeatthebottomandsomepositivesatthetop .

• Onthegroundortheocean,there’llbeapositivechargewhereveracloudpassesby .• Iftheoceanisperfectlyflat,waterjustevaporatesandmakesclouds .• Iftherearebreakingwaves,theycreatetinydropletsthatalsohavepositivecharge .• Positiveshatepositives,sothedropletsstartgoingupwardsbecausethey’reattractedtothenega-tivechargesontheclouds .

• Onthewayup,theymightevaporate,andwhentheygettothecloud,theyhelpdecreasesomeofthenegativecharge .Theyalsofeedthecloudwithwatervapor .

• Boilingwaterisdifferent .Whenyouputacupofwateroverheat,thecupgetshotandconductsheattothewater .

• Thewaterclosesttothecupgetshotfirst,andthemoleculesgetalljiggly,sotheybangintotheothermoleculesandmakethemgethot .

• Ifyougetithotenoughatthebottom,thewaterturnsintoabubbleofsteam(notanairbubble) .• Thebubblesstartbig,thengetsmallerandsmallerastheyrise .• Whenitbecomesafullrollingboil,thebubblesescapeallthewaytothetop .


Experiment Quick Recap: “DNA”• Instructordemonstratestheentireprocedurebeforestudentsdoit .

• Ontheinternet,therearemanyrecipesforgettingDNAoutoffruit .Someofthemareverycomplex,buttheonewe’reusingonlyrequiresafewingredients:soap,salt,water,fruit,andalcohol .

• Thealcoholhastobeverycold,sowehaveitsittinginacontaineronice .

• Thesoapandsalthavebeenpre-mixedintothewater .• Instructorbringsoutsomestrawberriesthathadbeenfrozenandarenowverysoggy .Heputsacoupleinaziplockbagandaddsatablespoonofthesoap-salt-watermixture .

• Laythebagonthetableandsqueezetheairout,thenzipitsoit’ssecurelyclosed .Positionthestrawberriesinthemiddle .

• Pressonthefruitwiththepalmofyourhandafewtimestosquishit .thenpickupthebagandsquishitbetweenyourfingerstogetthesoapsolutionandthefruitwellmixed .

• UsingyourfingersworksbetterthanusingablenderbecausetheblenderchopsuptheDNAintoshortstrandssoitdoesn’tworkaswell .

• ThewatercreatesaplacefortheDNAtogo,thesoapbreaksdownthewallsofthecellssotheDNArupturesthroughit,andthesaltcreatesosmoticpressuresothattheDNAwantstorunoutofthecells .Thesoapalsohelpskeepitinsolutionsoitdoesn’trunaway .

• Thestrawberrypulpcontainsskin,leaves,dirt,etc .inadditiontothejuice,soithastobefiltered .

• Filterpaperwouldgetcloggedrightaway .Instead,cutasquarefromanylonsockandputitinthebottomofalargesyringetoactasafilter .

• Cutonecornerofftheziplockbagandsqueezethepulpthroughtheholeandintothesyringe .Youshouldbeabletofillitabouthalf-full .

• Placeatesttubeintoatesttuberackandholdthesyringejustaboveit .Pressdownwiththeplungertomakethejuicedripintothetesttube .

• DONOTrestthesyringeonthetesttubewhenyou’repressingdown,becausethetesttubewillshatterandyou’llgetcut .

• Whenstudentsgetaboutateaspoonofjuiceinthetesttube,In-structorsquirtsinsomeicyalcohol,directingittowardstheinnersidesofthetesttubetowashdownanyjuicethatmaybecling-ingtothesides .

Squashing strawberries.

Forcing juice through syringe.


Experiment Quick Recap (cont.): “DNA”• TheDNAwillbegintoseparatealmostimmediately,beingdrawnupintothealcohol .Itappearsasalayerofmilkyfluidabovethejuice .

• Letitjustsitforawhile .ThenuseacottonswabtopulloutsomeoftheDNA .Itwillbeslimey .Putitinaplasticsoufflecup .

• WhilestudentsarewaitingforthestrawberryDNAtofinishseparating,theycanstartonanotherfruit,suchasbananas,grapes,onions,apples,ororanges .Forapplesandonions,theInstructorcutsapieceandchopsitinablenderbeforegivingittothestudent,usingacleanblenderjarforeachtypeoffruit .Bananas,grapes,andorangesdon’tneedtobeblended .

• Beforestartingonthesecondfruit,studentsgetanewziplockbagandtesttube .Theyemptyoutthesyringe,thenrinsethesyringe,plunger,andnylonfilterinabucketofwaterbeforereusingthem .


Equipment List: “DNA”Items needed for Instructor:

Consumables:

• Alcohol,denatured• MisterBubblessoap• Salt(plaintablesalt)• Water• Ice,crushed,1bag• Pipette,plastic• PapertowelsforcleanupOther:

• DNAmodels(2),onemonochrome,theothermulti-colored

• Bottle,plastic,forsoapsolution• Bottle,plastic,foralcohol• Measuringspoon,1tbsp• Containertoholdcrushedice• Knifeforcuttingfruit• Blenderwith2jars• Bucket,5-gal• Coolertostoreiceifnecessary

Items needed for Students:

Consumables (per group of 2 students):

• Strawberries(2)• Fruit,other(banana,grapes,onions,apples,oranges)• Ziplockbag,1qtsize(2pergroup)• Cottonswab(2)• Soufflecup,plastic,2oz(2)Other (per group of 2 students):

• Testtube,(2)• Testtuberack• Largesyringe• Nylonsockfilter

Prep Work:

• Buyfreshfruit .• Buycrushedice• Chillalcoholonice .• Cutnylonsocksinto4”squares• Mixsoap&saltintowaterasfol-lows:• 100mlwater• 10mlMr .Bubbles• 1/4tspsalt

Syringe and plunger.

Alcohol chilling on ice.

Test tube rack, plastic cup, cotton swab.

Story Recap: “The Invisible Minion Heist”


Part 1:

• EvilMisterFreddiscoveredacrystalskulldeepinsideaMayantemple .• Theskull’snamewasGeorge .Georgecouldbeniceifhelikedyou,buthealsohadfireinhiseyes .

• EvilMisterFredwantedtofindoutwhatGeorgecoulddoifhegotangry,sohetoldaminiontotellGeorgehewasugly .

• FirecameoutofGeorge’seyes,andtheminiongotcompletelyburnedup .• Butaminutelater,EvilMisterFredfeltabaseballbathithimontheknee,buttherewasnoonethere .Itturnedouttheminionhadbecomeinvisible .

• EvilMisterFredgotallhisminionstoinsultGeorgesotheycouldallbecomeinvisible .• HesentthemtothetownofCucarachatorobacandystorebecausetheyloveM&Ms .Astheywentthroughthetown,theminionswouldhitpeopleandmakethemthinksomeoneelsehaddoneit,soalotoffightsbrokeout .

• Whentheygottothecandystore,thestoreownersawthebagsofM&Msfloatintotheair,openup,andthenturnintoabrownmushinsidesomethinghecouldn’tsee .Thentheclumpsofbrownmushfloatedoutthedoor .

• WhenEvilMisterFredrealizedthatwhatevertheminionsatewouldbevisibleforawhile,hesentthemtorobtheDeBeersdiamondstore,becausediamondsareclearandwouldn’tbeseen .

• TheminionssneakedintotheDeBeersstore,pastthesecurity,andswallowedallthediamonds .Butsecuritylockeddownthebuildingsonoonecouldgetout .

• Theminionsusedtheirbaseballbatstosmashthegrateleadingtoanairconditioningduct,crawledthroughittotheroof,smashedtheirwayoutatthetop,andjumpedofftheroof,leavingfootprintswheretheylandedontheground .ThentheyranbacktoEvilMisterFred .

• EvilMisterFredwasgoingtocuttheminionsopentogetthediamonds,butthendecidedtoputavacuumcleanerhosedowntheirthroatsandsuckthemoutinstead .

• DeBeerscalledJackandJilltosolvethecrimebecausetheywerefamousdetectives .Theysawthesmashedairconditioneropeningandsawthedustintheducthadbeenmoved .Theyrecog-nizedtheminionfootprints,butthefootprintsdisappearedaftertheyjumpedofftheroof .

Story Recap (cont.):


Ending:

• JackandJillsearchedallovertheDeBeersbuilding,buteventheminionhairwasinvisible .• Sotheybroughtinaspecialultravioletlight,andtheysawtinyhairs .Theyknewtheyhadtobefromthethievesbecausetheywereinvisible .

• Theycollectedthehairs,groundthemup,andputthemintothesoapyliquidwithalittlebitofsalt .Theysqueezedthemthroughafilter,addedalcohol,andcollectedtheDNA .

• ThehadtheDNArunthroughjellobygivingitafivethousandvoltelectricshock .ThelittleDNAsranfasterthanthebigDNAs,andtheymadestripesinthejello .

• NowJackandJillhadtheDNAfingerprintsofthethieves .• TheywenttoEvilMisterFredandwantedtoseehisminions,butEvilMisterFredwouldn’ttellthemwheretheywere .

• ThenJackfeltsomethingrushpasthim,andJillsawfootprintsrunningaround,sotheyknewtheminionswerethere .

• Jackstartedsprayingyellowspraypaintaround,sotheminionsbecamevisible .• JackandJillgrabbedsomehairfromtheminions’mustachesanddidtheDNAtestagain,andtheyfoundouttheminionswerethethieves .

• Theycalledthepolice,whotookEvilMisterFredandtheminionsofftojail .


Transcript: Intro Supposeamonstercomesintoyourbackyard,andsupposeyourparentshadgivenyouamerry-go-round .Andyourmerry-go-roundhashorsesonpolesaroundtheedges,andinthemiddleofyourmerry-go-roundyouputaladder,becauseyouliketogoaroundandaroundcirclesinthesky .Andthemonstercameandbittheendofyourladder,likethat .Andyousaid,“Hey,monster,letgoofmyladder .”Andthemonstersaid,“Mm-mmphhh!”[shakes head].Andyousay,“You’dbetterdoitorI’llturnonthemerry-go-roundandmakeyourheadspin .”Themonstersaid,“Rrrrrrr!”

Soyouwentoverthereandyouturnedonyourmerry-go-round .Andthemerry-go-roundstartinggoing[makes sounds like an engine trying to rev up],anditwasturning .Andasitturned,theladderstartedtotwist,likethat .Andtherungsontheladdergotalldistorted .Doesthatlooklikeanything?[Students: DNA!]Yep,that’swhatDNAlookslike .

It’skindoflikealadderthat’sbeentwistedbyagiantgreenmonster,andifyoudidn’tknowanythingaboutDNA,youmightmakeamodelthatlookslikethisandthentwistitalittle,tomakeitlooklikeatwistedladder .Andyou’dsay,“Thereyougo .Here’smytwistedpairs .”

Buttheydiscoveredsomethingabouttherungs,theplaceswhereyouputyourfeetwhenyouclimbtheladder .They’reonlymadeoutoffourdifferentkindsofchemicals .Andthechemicalsactinaweirdway .

Here’samoreaccurateDNAthing,andit’sgottheseguysherethatarelightorangeanddarkorange .It’sgottheguysthatarekindofpurpleandorange .It’sgottheblueguys,andit’sgotthepurpleguys .TheonlyfourchemicalsthatareinDNA .Itturnsout,theblueguyslikethepurpleguys .Theblueguysdon’tlikeanyorangeguysatall .Theywon’tas-sociatewithorangeguys .Andthepurpleguyswon’tassoci-atewithorangeguys .Andtheorangeguyssay,“Hmm .Well,allrightthen,we’lljuststickbyourselves .”Andtheorangeguyslikeeachother .

Twisted pairs.

Left: Monster bites ladder. Right: Ladder gets twisted.

More accurate.


Transcript: Intro (cont.) Andtheygavethemnames .Sincetherewereonlyfour,andtheymakeupeverythingthatcreatesus,theyhadtonamethesethings .SoonecouldbenamedGeorge,onecouldbeCarl,onecouldbeAnthony,andonecouldbeTom .Turnsout,GeorgeonlywillhangaroundwithCarl .They’regoodbuddies .AndAnthonywillonlyhangaroundwithTom .They’regoodbuddies .Theywon’tassociatewitheachother .Andthefirstlet-

tersthatIchoseforthesenamesindicatethechemicalsthattheyare .IfyoulookinWikipediaorsomeotherkindofencyclopedia,you’llfindoutthatGstandsforGuanine[underlines the “nine”].It’sgota“nine .”TheCstandsforCytosine .It’sgota“sine”insteadofa“nine .”Now,AnthonyisAdenine .Andit’sgota“nine”ontheend .AndTom,he’sThymine .He’sa“mine .”Soyou’vegotnines,you’vegotmines,andyou’vegotsines .

Thosearethenamestheymadeup .IwouldhaverathercalledthemGeorge,Carl,Anthony,andTommyself .Easiertoremember .

Today,we’regoingtobegoofingaroundwithsomeDNAtoseeifwecangetitoutofsomefruitandseewhatitlookslike .Butfirst,weneedacrazystory .

George only likes Carl, and Anthony only likes Tom.

Their real names: Guanine, Cytosine, Adenine, and Thymine.


Story: “The Invisible Minion Heist”EvilMisterFredhasfound,inaMayantemple,aclearcrystalskull .Andtheskull’snamewasGeorge .AndGeorgecouldbeaniceguy,butGeorgecouldalsobemeanandangry .IfGeorgelikedyou,hecouldtalktoyouandtellyouanswerstoyourquestions .Butifyoudidn’ttreatGeorgenicely,anddidn’tgivehimwhathewanted,Georgehadfireinhiseyes .AndGeorgecouldmakethingsmovewithouttouchingthembecausehe’sgotnoarms .He’sjustahead .

Now,Mayantemplesusuallylookkindoflikepyramids .There’dbelikeaplaceatthetop,andthere’saflatspot,andthentheyusuallyhadstepsonthem .Andthentheyhadstairsthatgotwiderastheywentup .Andtheseareallsteps,likethat .

AndEvilMisterFredfoundtheskullhiddeninatunneldeepinside .Andhesaid,“Wow,I’vegotpowernow!Thisskullisgreat!Iwonderwhatitcoulddotomyminions .”Becausehewasafraidtodoanythingwithithimself .Sohecalledsomeminionsoverandhesaid,“Minions,comehere .”Theminionssaid,“Okay,boss,whattyagot?”AndEvilMisterFredsaid,“Minion,Iwantyoutogorightuptothatskull,starerightinitseyes,andsay,‘Skull,you’reuglyyyyy!Idon’tlikeyou!”’Andtheminionsaid,“Oh,boy,that’llbefun!”

Sotheminionranuptotheskull,said,“Skull,you’reug-lyyyyy!AndIdon’tlikeyou!”Andfirecameoutoftheskull’seyes,andtheminiongotburnedcompletelyup .Therewasnominion .AndEvilMisterFredsaid,“Oops!Lostaminion .”AndthenEvilMisterFredfeltabaseballbathithimonthekneecap .Hewent“Aaaahh-ooh-aah-oooh!Where’dthatcomefrom?”Therewasnobaseballbatthere .Therewasnomin-ionthere .Hestartedgoingaroundlikethis[feeling the empty space with his arms],andwhack!Hefeltaminion!Andhesaid,“Hey,you’reaninvisibleminion .”Theminionsaid,“Yeah,isn’tthisgreat?”Whack!Whack!AndhehitEvilMisterFredandranaway .

AndEvilMisterFredsaid,“Youstopthat!”Andtheminioncamebackandhesaid,“Sorry,boss,Icouldn’tresist .Thisisjustsomuchfun,andIlikebeinginvisible .Andevenmybaseballbat’sinvis-ible .”AndEvilMisterFredsaid,“Ooooohhh!”Sothenhehadallofhisminionsrunuptotheskullandinsulttheskull,andheturnedabunchoftheminvisible .Heputonsomearmorfirst,sohedidn’tgethitwithbaseballbats .

Evil Mister Fred and the crystal skull.

The Mayan temple.

Invisible minion.


Andthenhesaid,“NowI’vegotinvisibleminions .Icandothingswiththis .WhatshouldIdo?”Andtheminionssaid,“Let’sgorobacandystore .WewantM&Ms .”AndEvilMisterFredsaid,“Well,youknow,that’sagoodidea .”Sohetookthemintotown .

Thetown’scalledCucaracha .Andtheysangthatsonginthestreets .EverybodywassingingtheCucara-chasong .Andtheinvisibleminionswentinthere,andtheycouldn’tresist .Therewerepeoplestandingallover,andtheywouldjustgobonk!--andthey’dhitonehere,andthey’dsmackanotheronethere .Andthepeoplewereblamingitonotherpeopleinthestreet,andfightswerebreakingoutallovertheplace .

Andtheminionswenttothecandystoreinthemiddleoftown .NextthingthestoreownersawwaspilesofpackagesofM&Msfloatinginmidair .ThenhesawthepackagesopenupandtheM&Msgetallscrunchedupandturnedintobrowngooinsideofsomething .Andthebrowngoofloatedaway .Andhethought,“Oh,that’sgross!”Andheranoff .

SoEvilMisterFredlearnedthatiftheminionseatsomething,peoplecanseewhat’sintheirstomachsforawhileuntilitturnsinvisibleagain .Hesaid,“NowIknowhowwe’regoingtodothis .Nowwe’regoingtofindsomethingvaluable .”

SohewentovertoaplacecalledDeBeers .Yeah,theydrinkalotofbeerthere .Andthebuildingwasshapedlike,oh,ithaddoorsintheshapeofdiamonds .Ithadchairsintheshapeofdiamonds .Youdrankoutofglassesthatwereshapedlikediamonds .Peopleworehatsthatlookedlikediamonds .Andtheysolddiamondsthere .

AndEvilMisterFredsaid,“Now’sourchance .Diamondsareclear .I’mgoingtohavetheminionsgointothatplace,sneakinthroughallthesecuritysystems,andthey’regoingtoeatthediamonds .”Sohedid .Hehadtheminionsgoin,sneakyminions .Theycouldgorightinthemiddleoftheday,walkrightthroughthefrontdoor,intotheback,andherewereallthesetableswithdiamondsalloverthem .Andguyswerepick-ingthemupwithtweezersandlookingatthemandsaying,“Ooooh!Ahhhh!”Andthenthediamondwouldfloatrightoutofhistweezersanddisappear .Anddiamondswerejust--be-foretheireyes,thetableofdiamondsweregoingaway .Andtheyallwereshouting,going,“What’sgoingon?Stopit!Stopit!Somebody’srobbingus!Lockthedoors!”

Sotheylockedallthedoors .Andnowthedumbminionsarelockedinside,fullofdiamonds .Andtheysaid,“Ooh,bossdidn’ttellusaboutthis .We’vegottogetoutofhere .”Theystartedlookingthroughthebuilding,andtheyfoundaholeinthewallwithbarsoverit,andtherewasaircomingoutofthehole .Theysaid,“Ah!Aventilationhole .Wecandothis .”

Candy store in Cucaracha.

The minions sneaked into DeBeers to steal the diamonds.


Imagination and Brainstorming Time[Students make suggestions](THEREARENOWRONGANSWERS!Whatevertheysay,youshouldreply:“That’sagoodidea,”“Theymightdothat,”etc .Afterbrainstorming,proceedwiththeexperi-ments,thenfinishthestory .)

We’llleavethis“TobeContinued . . .”

Theytooktheirbaseballbatsandtheysmasheditin--smashy,smashy,smashy .Andpeoplestandingbysaid,“Wha?Itjustsmasheditself!”Thentheyheardthepitter-patteroftinymin-ionfeet .Theminionsmadetheirwayuptotheroofwheretheairconditionerwas,smashedthatopen,andthentheyjumpedofftheedge .Andleftgiantminionfootprintsintheground .Andthentheyranoff,backtoEvilMisterFred’splace .

Well,thiswastherobberyofthecentury .Billionsofdollarsofdiamondsstolenrightfromtheirveryeyes .Andtheminionssaid,“Boss,wedidit!Wedidit!”Andthebosssaid,“Okay,uh,thediamondsareinsideofyou,right?”[Student: They need surgery.]Yup .Hesays,“We’regoingtohavetocutthemout .”Thenhesaid,“Nope,I’vegotabetteridea .”Hegrabbedavacuumcleanerandhestuckitdowntheirthroatandsuckedallthediamondsoutandcleanedthemup .Andhesaid,“Thiswastheperfectrobbery .Noonewilleverfindoutwhodidit .Orhowtheydidit .”

Andofcourse,theDeBeersguyscalledJackandJill .Andtheysaid,“JackandJill,you’refamousdetec-tives .”AndJackandJillsaid,“Well,howdoyouknowwe’refamousdetectives?”Andtheysaid,“Well,it’sobvious .Youwearahatwithearmuffsonthesides,andyouhaveamagni-fyingglass .Onlydetectiveslooklikethat .”

SoJackandJillsaid,“Allright,what’stheproblem?”Andtheytoldthemeverythingthattheyfound,andhowtheylostalltheirdiamonds .AndJackandJillexploredeverything .Theyfoundthefootprints .Theyfoundthesmashedaircon-ditioneropening .Theysawthedustwasmovedintheducts .Andtheysaid,“Ohh,theselooklikeminionfootprints .Hmmm .”Butthefootprintsdisappearedaftertheyleft,whentheyjumpedofftheroof .Now,ifyou’reJackandJill,andyouwanttoconvictthoseminionsofthishorriblecrime,whatwouldyoudo?Jack and Jill, famous detectives.

The minons got out through the air conditioning ducts and left footprints

where they jumped off the roof.


Experiment: “DNA Extraction”Asitturnsout,ifyoulookontheinternetonhowtogetDNAoutoffruit,someoftherecipesrequiresixteenortwentypages .Andyoureadthroughallofthat,andthenyoufindanotherthat’sdoneononepage .Itsays,“Hey,youdon’tneedtodothis,andyoudon’tneedtodothat,andyoudon’tneedtodothis . . . .Allyouneedissoap,salt,water,fruit,andalcohol .”Well,wecandothat .

Thealcoholhastobereallycold .That’swhyIhavethiscontainerofalcoholsittingoniceoverheretohelpkeepitcold .Andwe’regoingtodoitintesttubesbecauseIliketesttubes .

Now,wewanttoputfruitjuiceinthetesttube .Fruitjuicecomesoutofsqueezedfruit,right?Soyou’vegottosqueezethefruit .AndIhavesomereallyoldstrawberriesthatwerefrozen .Soourfirsttestis,we’regoingtotakesomesoggystrawberries--theygotmoldyandeverything--andwe’lltakeoneofthegrosslittleguysandsplat[drops a strawberry into a ziplock bag].Andmaybewe’llputinalittleextraforgoodmeasure .

[Instructor demonstrates entire procedure before having students do it.]ThisisamixtureofordinarywaterwithMiracleBubblessoapandalittlebitofsalt .Sowehaveatablespoon,andwe’lldumpsomeofthesoapywateronourstrawberries .Whenyougetthesoapandthefruit,yousqueezemostoftheairoutandzipitonthetable .Makesureit’szipped .Andyouputthem[the strawberries]inthe

middle .Theretheysit,happylittlefruits .

Andthenyouleanonthem--gusshhh[presses the strawber-ries with the palm of his hand].There .Andyougetthesoapystuffandthefruitallmixedtogether .

ThewaterhelpscreateaplacefortheDNAtogo,thesoapbreaksdownthewallsofthecellssotheDNArupturesthroughit,thesaltalsocreatesosmoticpres-suresothattheDNAwantstojumpoutofthecells,andthesoapalsohelpskeepitinsolutionsoitdoesn’trunaway .

Squishingitwithyourfingersisbetterthanputtingitinablender .Thewebsitessaythatifyouputitinablender,itchopstheDNAupintosmallstrandsanditdoesn’tworkaswell .Sonowwe’vegotslopinabag .Butit’samixtureofstrawberryskinsandthegreentops,anddirtandeverythingelse .Wewantthejuice,sowehavetofilterit .Then squish it between

your fingers.

One tablespoon of soapy water is added to the bag.

Crush the strawberries with your palm.

Squeeze out most of the air, zip the bag, and position the strawberries in the middle.


Filteringturnedouttobeaproblem .Ifyoutrytofilteritthroughfilterpaper,itgetscloggedinstant-ly .Turnsout,themostpracticalthingforfilteringthisisalady’snylonsock .Soyouhavetosneakuponaladyandcutabigpatchoutofhersock .Andthenyouputthesockinagiantsyringe .

Andthenyoujusthavetogetthis[bag of squashed strawberries]inthis[large syringe]withoutspillingitalloverthetable .Youcanspillalittle,butyoudon’twanttospillawholelot,becauseyouwon’thaveenough .

Soyoucutoneofthecorners,hopefullysmallerthanthetube,andthenifyouhaveapartnerit’s

easier .Youtrytogetittogointhere[squeezes strawberry pulp through hole in corner of bag and into the syringe].Now,whenyougetitabouthalf-fullofglop,

thenyouhavethetesttube .Now,there’satemptationtosetitontopofthetesttubeandpushtheplungerdown .Ifyoudo,thetesttubebreaksintoshards,razor-sharp,andyourhand--youcanseeitinslowmotion--goesdown,andtheshardscutthroughyourwrist,andbloodgushesoutonthetable .Andyousay,“Oooh,blood!Myfavorite!”

Soifyouwanttoavoidallthat,puttheplungerinthereandsqueezeitabovethetesttube .Andyouonlyneedateaspoonofthestuffinthetesttube .Andateaspoonisonlylike,halfaninchoraninchworth .Andyousee,evenwiththenylonsock,that’saboutit .Ifyoucan,itwouldbenicetogetalittlebitmore .Let’sjustseewhathappens .Someofitescapespastthecork .We’llgiveitaplunge[pushes plunger into syringe to make the juice drip into the test tube].That’sgood .

Thenweneedsomeicyalcohol .Idon’tknowwhyicyisgood,buttheyallsaid,everywebsitesaid,it’sgottobeicyalcohol .Okay,sowe’lldotheicyalcoholthing .Andyougolikethataroundtheedges[squirts alcohol against the inner sides of the test tube so that it washes down any juice that may be clinging to the sides].

Nowyouwaitalittlebit .TheDNAisalreadystartingtoseparate .Littlebubblesaredrawingamilky . . .almostcloudy-lookingDNAisgoingintothealcohol .Andifyoulookcarefully,youcanseeitgoingrightintothealcohol .

Ladies’ nylon sock filter.

Squeeze pulp out through hole in corner of bag.

Press the plunger to squeeze the juice into the test tube.

Squirt icy alcohol around the inside

edges of test tube.


AndthatmilkystuffistheDNA .Forsomereason,itlikestogoupintothealco-hol .It’salmostlikesomebodytoldthem,“We’regoingtohaveapartyandthere’sgoingtobebooze .”Andtheysay,“Allright,beer!”Andtheygointothealcohol .

Now,ifyouwanttocollectit,youprettymuchhavetoletitsitthereandpartydownforawhile .Youcangoonanddoasecondonewhilethisonesitsinyourtesttuberack .I’lltryitwiththisonetoseeifIcangetanyout,justsoyoucanseewhatitdoes .Ifyouputtheq-tipthinginthereandtwistit,theDNAstickstoit--ta-daa!DNAslime!There’smorethanthatinthere .Andthenyou’regoingtoputyourq-tipwithyourDNAslimeintooneoftheseclearcups .Andyou’lltrytorememberthatthatonewasstrawberry .

Now,wehaveotherfruit .There’sbananas,grapes,onions,apples,andoranges .Chooseapartnerandwe’llhandoutziplockbags .Andwe’regoingtodumpinsoapy,saltywater .

[Instructor first puts a spoonful of the soapy water into each team’s ziplock bag, then drops a strawberry or two into each one. Students proceed to do the experi-ment as demonstrated. When it’s time for alcohol, the Instructor squirts it into the students’ test tubes.

When they finish with the strawberries, they select another fruit: banana, grapes, apple, onion, or or-ange. If they select an apple or an onion, the Instructor cuts off a section and chops it in a blender first, using a clean blender jar for each type of fruit.

Students use a fresh bag for the second fruit. They empty the remains of the previous fruit out of the syringe, but save the nylon sock. They rinse the syringe, plunger, and sock in a bucket of water before reusing them.]

Additional fruit.

Use cotton swab to pull out DNA slime.

Use blender to pre-chop onions or apples.


End of Story * DO NOT * present this part of the lesson until after the experiments!SoJackandJill,livinginthecityofCucaracha,hadtofig-ureoutwhostolethediamonds .Theysawminionfootprintsoutsidethebuilding,butminionfootprintscouldhavegottenthereforanynumberofreasons .Thatdoesn’tprovethattheystolethediamonds .SoJackandJillwentinwiththeirmag-nifyingglassesandtheysearchedeverywhere .Buteventheminionhairwasinvisible .Sotheybroughtinaspecialblacklight,anultravioletlight .Andtheyshineditallaround .Andtheysawlittletinyhairsthatcouldonlybeseenundertheul-travioletlight .Andtheysaid,‘Mwah-ha-ha!Thesehavegottobethehairsofthethieves,becausethey’retheonlyinvisibleones .”Andtheycollectedallthehairs,andtheygroundthemup,andtheyputtheminsoapywaterwithalittlebitofsalt .Andthentheysqueezedthemthroughafilter .Andthentheyaddedalcohol,andtheycollectedtheDNAout .

ThentheyhadtheDNAfromtheminionsrunthroughjello .KnowhowyoumakeDNArunthroughjello?Youshockitwithelectricity .TheyputfivethousandvoltsontheDNA,anditstartedrunningthroughthejello .AndthelittleDNAsranfasterthanthebigguys .Andtheymadestripesinthejello .

AndJackandJillsaid,“NowwehavetheDNAfingerprintsofthethieves .”AndtheywenttoEvilMisterFredandsaid,”EvilMisterFred,whereareyourminions?”Andhesaid,“Goodluckfindingthem .Youwon’tfindthem .”AndJackfeltsomethingrushbyhim,andhesaid,“Whatwasthat?”AndJillsaid,“Hey,therearefootprints,butthere’snobodythere .Lookatthefootprints!They’rekeepinggoing!”Andsomebody[during the brainstorming session]saidgetyellowspraypaint .Ilikethatidea .SoJackgrabbedsomeyellowspraypaintandwent[mimes spraying], andallofasuddentheminionsstartedshowingup .Andtheygrabbedsomeminionhairfromtheirmustaches .AndtheydidtheDNAanalysisanddiscoveredtheywerethethieves .AndEvilMisterFredsaid,“That’snotproof .That’sjustscience .Thatdoesn’tmeananythingatall .”AndJackandJillsaid,“Tellittothejudge .”AndthepolicecameandgrabbedEvilMisterFredandallhisyellowspraypaintedminions,andtookthemofftojail .Andtheyalllivedhappilyeverafter,exceptEvilMisterFred .

End of LessonIf y0u have questions about this lesson, please ask them through the online Teacher Support Forum on our web site.

Jack and Jill’s ultraviolet light.

DNA stripes in jello.

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