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How to Make Models of Chromosomes

Chromosomes are the basic building blocks that determine what we are. They carry the genetic information that tells cells what color our eyes will be, what our voice will sound like and every other other detail about our physical construction. These building instructions are found in the components of DNA, or dioxyribonucleic acids, which combine to form genes, which then combine to make chromosomes inside of our cells. The structure of these chromosomes is called a double helix, which looks like a twisting ladder. In this model, each of the colored pipe cleaner segments represents a type of DNA. The full double helix represents a gene, and a multitude of genes would represent a chromosome.

Things You'll Need

2 24-inch pieces of twine
8 2-inch segments of blue pipe cleaner
8 2-inch segments of green pipe cleaner
8 2-inch segments of red pipe cleaner
8 2-inch segments of yellow pipe cleaner
18 pieces of dry pinwheel pasta
12 pieces of dry ziti pasta

Instructions

- 1
  String nine pieces of pinwheel pasta, each separated by a segment of ziti pasta, on each of the segments of twine. Tie the twine around the top and bottom pieces of pinwheel pasta on each line. The ziti pasta will serve as spacers between the pieces of pinwheel pasta. Lay the lines side by side.
- 2
  Pair up the pipe cleaner segments according to the following code: blue is for adenine; green for thymine; red for cytosine; and yellow for guanine. These are the four types of DNA, or bases, in making up a gene. Adenine (A) always pairs with thymine (T) and cytosine (C) always pairs with guanine (G). So your green and blue segments should be paired with each other, and your red and yellow segments should be paired with each other.
- 3
  Twist each of the pipe cleaner stem pairs together, leaving a little room at each side to connect the pairs to the pieces of pinwheel pasta. You will have eight segments of blue-green pairs and eight segments of red-yellow pairs.
- 4
  Attach one of the twisted pairs to each of the pinwheel pastas at the top of the strings. Continue down the line to form "steps" until you have completed a full ladder. You can attach the stem pairs in any order. They do not have to alternate. You will have seven pieces of pipe-stem pairs left over after you have completed your ladder.

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