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How to Make DNA Models Out of Crayons

DNA is the acronym for deoxyribonucleic acid -- the "instructions" in each cell for the functioning of all living things. Although seemingly so complex, DNA is actually quite simple to visualize and can even be modeled using colored crayons. In particular, the different strands of DNA are organized in a double helix pattern and identified with different colors. DNA is made up of the four proteins adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine. Each one can be represented by a separate crayon color.

Things You'll Need

Many crayons of six different colors
String
Scissors
Wire

Instructions

- 1
  Gather together materials including many crayons of six different colors, wires and string. Four colors of crayons represent adenine, cytosine, guanine and thymine while the two other colors depict the sugar and phosphate molecules that form the outside edge of the DNA strand.
- 2
  Tie and connect two crayons of different colors together with the string. Tie them tightly and cut the loose ends of the knot off with scissors. Alternate between the two colors as you tie and connect more of the crayons. Lay them down lengthwise to form the outer edge of the strand. These form the sugar and phosphate molecules of DNA.
- 3
  Repeat the procedure with the same two crayon colors as Step 2 in a parallel line to create a second strand of the same height. This forms the other side of the DNA strand.
- 4
  Take crayons of the other four colors and tie them together in an alternating pattern. The length of this pattern should be equal to the width of the parallel strands already constructed. These represent the four proteins.
- 5
  Insert wire into the two end crayons on each horizontal line. Connect those to crayons in the vertical strands. Twist these long strands slightly to form the twisting pattern of the double helix.

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