STRAW TAPE FIX DNA HELIX | Tamil
Channel: Arvind Gupta
Date: 02/10/2015

DNA or Deoxyribonucleic acid is the building block of all life. You can make a DNA model using colored straws. First cut colored straws in two equal parts. The DNA structure is a double helix where each unit is made up of a nucleotide of sugar, phosphate and nitrogenous bases. As there are 4 types of nitrogenous bases so we will use 4 different colors of straws. These nitrogenous bases are Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine and Thymine. Each step of a DNA is actually a pair of these nitrogenous bases because Adenine binds only with Thymine (A-T) and Guanine binds with Cytosine (G-C). A, T, G and C each nitrogenous base can be depicted with a different color straw. These nitrogenous bases hold the information for making proteins in all living beings. 

Take a 2-meters tape place it on the floor with its sticky side up. Place these base layers of colored straws at equal distances. Ensure that Adenine always binds with Thymine and Guanine with Cytosine. This DNA contains all the genetic information which ensures that the offspring looks a little like the parents. Place another cello tape on top such that the straws are sandwiched between two layers of tape.  Pencils on both ends will help you to twist the model. On twisting you can see the helical structure of the DNA. Rotate it so that you can see four base layers in one of the helix. This is because the DNA structure contains one helix of the DNA structure contains four base layers. Have fun playing with the most important molecule in all living beings.
This work is supported by IUCAA(www.iucaa.ernet.in) and TATA Trust (www.tata.com/aboutus/sub_index/Tata-trusts)

Credits:,Ashok Rupner, Manish Jain, Shivaji Mane, Jyoti Hiremath, Arvind Gupta, Vidula Mhaiskar, V. Ramprashanth TATA Trust: Education is one of the key focus areas for Tata Trusts, aiming towards enabling access of quality education to the underprivileged population in India. To facilitate quality in teaching and learning of Science education through workshops, capacity building and resource creation, Tata Trusts have been supporting Muktangan Vigyan Shodhika (MVS), IUCAA's Children’s Science Centre, since inception. To know more about other initiatives of Tata Trusts, please visit www.tatatrusts.org