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How to Create a 3D DNA Strand With Pipe Cleaners

DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid. It is the basic blueprint of an organism. DNA looks like a twisted ladder. The sides of the ladder are made up of sugar and phosphate molecules. The rungs of a DNA ladder consist of four alternating chemical bases: adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine. You can easily create a 3D model of a DNA strand using pipe cleaners and beads. Your model will help you learn to identify the basic components of a DNA strand.

Things You'll Need

2 white pipe cleaners
2 black pipe cleaners
Scissors
4 red beads
4 yellow beads
4 green beads
4 blue beads

Instructions

- 1
  Set two white pipe cleaners side by side on a flat work surface. Position the pipe cleaners so they are running vertically.
- 2
  Cut two black pipe cleaners into eight pieces, each 3 inches in length with scissors. Separate the cut pieces into two groups, each contain four pieces.
- 3
  Thread one yellow bead and one red bead onto each of the four black pipe cleaners in the first group. Thread one blue bead and one green bead onto each of the four black pipe cleaners in the second group.
- 4
  Select one of the black pipe cleaners containing a red and yellow bead. Position the black pipe cleaner horizontally between the two white pipe cleaners with the red bead on the left. Twist the left end of the black pipe cleaner around the top of the left white pipe cleaner. Twist the right end of the black pipe cleaner around the top of the right white pipe cleaner.
- 5
  Select a black pipe cleaner containing a blue and green bead. Position the black pipe cleaner horizontally between the two white pipe cleaners, 1/2 to 1 inch below the first black pipe cleaner. Turn the pipe cleaner so the blue bead is on the left. Twist the ends of the black pipe cleaner around the corresponding white pipe cleaners.
- 6
  Select a black pipe cleaner containing a red and yellow bead. Position this pipe cleaner horizontally below the black pipe cleaner containing the blue and green beads. Adjust this pipe cleaner so that the yellow bead is on the left. Attach the pipe cleaner as before.
- 7
  Select a black pipe cleaner containing a blue and green bead. Position the pipe cleaner horizontally below the third black pipe cleaner of the model. Turn the pipe cleaner so the green bead is on the left. Attach it to the white pipe cleaners in the same manner as before.
- 8
  Attach the remaining four black pipe cleaners to the white pipe cleaners following the pattern of the first four rungs. Grasp the top ends of the white pipe cleaners in one hand and the bottom ends of the white pipe cleaners in your other hand. Twist your hands slowly in opposite directions to twist the DNA strand into a spiral shape.

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