DNA: The Human Body Recipe
As a class, students work through an example showing how DNA provides the "recipe" for making human body proteins. They see how the pattern of nucleotide bases (adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine) forms the double helix ladder shape of DNA, and serves as the code for the steps required to make genes. Students extend their knowledge by conducting the associated activities to learn ways that engineers and scientists are applying their understanding of DNA in our world.
The instructions for creating all the cells in our bodies are found in our DNA.Copyright Human Genome Program, US Department of Energy, Genome Management Information System, Oak Ridge National Laboratory http://genomics.energy.gov
Once it was discovered that DNA contains the instructions for making cells and proteins, the way was open for many diverse engineering applications. Genetic engineers find ways to modify the DNA of organisms to create a desired trait or protein, such as making a crop resistant to a certain herbicide or making bacteria that create human insulin. Forensic engineers use DNA evidence to help determine people's innocence or guilt of crimes. Agricultural engineers create genetically-modified crops to enable the cultivation of food in areas poorly suited for farming.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Describe DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid).
- Describe ways in which engineers are involved with genetics and the human body.