How to Build a Double Helix DNA Model

Using Candy

• 1

  Cut the licorice into small, equal sized pieces. When arranging the licorice pieces alternate the pieces so red pieces are only attached to black pieces.

• 2

  String the sugar-phosphate backbone together using fishing line. Form a spiral shape in the fashion of DNA while doing this.

• 3

  Assign a color for each of the bases. These include adenine, guanine, thymine and cytosine.

• 4

  Attach bases to their accompanying base using a double-ended toothpick to form base pairs. Guanine pairs with cytosine while thymine pairs with adenine.

• 5

  Attach the base pairs to the licorice sugar-phosphate backbone. Twist the model to form a helix.

Using Styrofoam Balls

• 6

  Paint the Styrofoam balls in colors representing the bases and the sugar-phosphate backbone using paint and a paintbrush.

• 7

  Build the helix from the bottom up, using the laboratory ring stand as a base. This will require threading the Styrofoam balls onto the toothpicks in alternating sequence for the outside sugar-phosphate backbone.

• 8

  Support the outside sugar-phosphate backbone by attaching it to the ring stand using fishing line. Continue to build upwards by attaching the toothpicks using super glue.

• 9

  Attach the base pair group by inserting a toothpick into the sugar-phosphate backbone. Hold one base pair Styrofoam ball against the ring stand pole and pierce with a toothpick. Proceed to super glue the Styrofoam ball against the ring stand. Follow the same procedure for the accompanying base pair. Follow this procedure until all base pairs are attached.