Don't be surprised if one of your students blurts "Now I get it!" while using our Flow of Genetic Information Kit. Students model DNA replication using color-coded, foam nucleotides and a placemat; model RNA transcription as they copy one strand of DNA into mRNA using an RNA polymerase; and model translation/protein synthesis as they decode the mRNA into protein on the ribosome placemat. Your students can then explore the folding of the protein into its final 3D shape using the popular Amino Acid Starter Kit.

Flow of Genetic Information Kit©

Placemats

1 DNA Replication Placemat (12'' x 19'')

1 Transcription Placemat (12'' x 19'')

1 Translation Placemat (12'' x 19'')

2 DNA Polymerase Ovals

1 Transcription Bridge

Sticky-Back Foam

3 Pieces of Orange Sticky-Back Foam for Replication Placemat

5 Pieces of Red Sticky-Back Foam for Transcription Placemat

3 Pieces of Purple Sticky-Back Foam for Translation Placemat

4 Pieces of Gray Sticky-Back Foam for Polymerase Ovals

1 Sheet of Stickers

MAPS

2 DNA Sequence Maps (I and II)

2 RNA Sequence Maps (I and II)

9 Tan tRNA Molecules

1 Tan Release Factor

10 White Amino Acids

DNA Nucleotides

40 Red Adenine 24 Gray Adenine

40 Yellow Thymine 24 Gray Thymine

40 Blue Cytosine 24 Gray Cytosine

40 Green Guanine 24 Gray Guanine

RNA Nucleotides

10 Red Adenine

10 White Uracil

10 Blue Cytosine

10 Green Guanine Please allot approximately 45 minutes to assemble the first kit and 30 minutes for each additional kit (if you have more than one). Colors may fade. Consider storing foam kits in a dark location such as a closet, cabinet or drawer. Flow of Genetic Information Kit© Expansion Pack 2 Cysteine 2 Histidine 1 Isoleucine 1 Glutamic Acid 1 Methionine 1 Proline 1 Red Clip 1 Blue Clip 2 Green Clips 3 White Clips 2 Yellow Clips (These side chains can also be found in the Amino Acid Starter Kit©.) Flow of Genetic Information Kit© Replacement Nucleotide Set DNA Nucleotides 40 Red Adenine, 40 Yellow Thymine, 40 Blue Cytosine, 40 Green Guanine 24 Gray Adenine, 24 Gray Thymine, 24 Gray Cytosine, 24 Gray Guanine RNA Nucleotides 10 Red Adenine, 10 White Uracil, 10 Blue Cytosine, 10 Green Guanine Flow of Genetic Information Kit© tRNA Expansion Pack 3 sheets of brown generic tRNAs 1 sheet of white amino acids 1 sheet of blank optional stickers

3D Molecular Designs and the Milwaukee School of Engineering Center for BioMolecular Modeling continually develop and update lesson plans and other resources for our educational products. Teacher notes, student handouts and other supporting documents vary based on the applications and activities of the kit or model. We appreciate your feedback and encourage you to submit your own lessons, assessments and videos. Materials on our Flow of Genetic Information Kit© Teacher Resources page include:
Teacher Notes
Replication Student Handout and Key
Transcription Student Handout and Key
Translation Student Handout and Key
Additional Online Resources
Animations and Videos
Next Generation Science Standards