A captivating representation of the classic DNA double
helix, this 3-D mini model will spark discussions about the structure
of DNA and the role of modeling in the molecular biosciences.
Our DNA Mini Model immediately engages your students in thinking about
the structure of DNA. You can guide a discussion of the nature of models
and the usefulness of multiple representations of any molecular
structure. The DNA molecular structure represents the classic DNA double
helix in multiple formats.
The bottom section of this DNA double helix model shows a surface
format emphasizing major and minor grooves. Details of the structure of
DNA progressively emerge as the model thins, gradually revealing
individual atoms in the middle section while highlighting nucleotide
bases at the top.
The model transforms from the bottom surface section into a large spacefill format featuring the CPK coloring scheme*.
The diameter proceeds to gradually decrease to a small spacefill
format, finally revealing the individual atoms in the nitrogenous bases.
From there the model transforms into a wireframe format at the top,
which emphasizes the individual nucleotide bases while retaining its
spacefill backbone features.
Bottom surface section
-
White with red emerging on the backbone
*Middle spacefill section CPK Coloring Scheme
- Gray represents carbon
- Red represents oxygen
- Blue represents nitrogen
- White represents hydrogen
- Orange represents phosphate
Top wireframe section
-
Blue represents guanine
-
Yellow represents cytosine
-
Red represents cytosine
-
Green represents thymine
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the genetic code for life. It is a
double helix with 2 antiparallel strands made up of alternating sugar
and phosphate groups. This sugar-phosphate backbone holds the
nitrogenous base pairs. There are 4 DNA bases: adenine pairs with
thymine and cytosine pairs with guanine. The nitrogenous bases form a
code that is replicated and then transcribed to ultimately make the
proteins that are essential for life.
The 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded jointly to Francis Harry Compton Crick, James Dewey Watson and Maurice Hugh Frederick Wilkins "for
their discoveries concerning the molecular structure of nucleic acids
and its significance for information transfer in living material".
The 8'' model is made of plaster by 3-D printing and should be
handled with care. Mini models will break if dropped, held tightly or
handled roughly. Its PDB file is Daves-DNA.pdb.
