Activity 3.4 - Identifying with use of DNA

• Apply knowledge on DNA in solving a case (game and real life).
• Develop an own DNA-profiling experiment.

• PC with internet connection
• Online game: http://www.biotechnologyonline.gov.au/popups/int_dnaprofiling.html
• Excel sheet on DNA pairing: http://aa5.nl/snd3E
• Who ate the Cheese: http://www.biologycorner.com/worksheets/who_ate_the_cheese.html
• Up to the students to decide, the students can choose between three different web based tasks.

The games are a good method to check if the students have enough knowledge on DNA and if they are able to apply this. A weak point in the first game is that they can click what they want without knowing anything. The teacher has to be aware that students can clarify why they click on certain choices. The ‘Who ate the Cheese?’ activity is rather basic, the excel sheet on DNA pairing goes a little deeper.

The DNA experiment in real life is a difficult part. It would be very interesting for students to do their own DNA-experiment. However, proper DNA-kits are very expensive. These DNA-kits cost € 20.000,- or more. There are some affordable (but still not cheap) alternatives but these are not reliable. In many countries however, there are institutions that promote DNA research and it is often possible to hire or rent a DNA kit here. Another possibility is to contact these partners for an excursion. It is up to the teacher to do research in the own region to contact these institutions. When the materials are available, the students can do their own experiments.

• Open inquiry.
• Depending on the available materials, students can perform their own experiment.
• Find connections to industry, this topic is very suitable for an excursion.

Do research on the historical use of DNA profiling (see also the Bertolin system as described in Subunit 1, activity 3.6).