DNA Detectives
This molecule is responsible for making living things unique.
What is DNA?
This is the tiny building block that makes up all living things.
What is a cell?
Yogurt, kombucha, sauerkraut, and kefier all contain these microbes.
What are bacteria?
This tool helps us see things too small for our eyes alone.
What is a microscope?
This type of scientist studies living things.
What is a biologist?
We used this to break down strawberry cell membranes to release strawberry DNA.
What is soap, detergent, or extraction solution?
The cell structure that holds DNA.
What is the nucleus?
Vaccines protect us from these microbes.
What are viruses?
This technique allows scientists to view tiny organisms and cells by magnifying them many times.
What is microscopy?
Wearing this helps protect us during experiments and helps keep our experiments from becoming contaminated.
What is personal protective equipment (lab coats, gloves, or goggles)?
DNA is insoluble in this. We added it to our strawberry experiment so we could see and collect the DNA.
What is alcohol?
This part of the cell acts like a gatekeeper, controlling what goes in and out.
What is the cell membrane?
These type of cells help us fight off pathogens like bacteria and viruses.
What are immune cells?
Cells work together to form these larger biological structures.
What are tissues?
Biologists perform these to test hypotheses about the effects of medicines on living things.
What is an experiment or study?
These are small sections of DNA that give instructions for specific traits, like curly hair or blue eyes.
What are genes?
These structures inside cells perform specific jobs and help the cell stay alive, just like organs in your body.
What are organelles?
These substances are used to kill or slow down the growth of bacteria. We used two natural ones, honey and vinegar.
What are antibiotics or antimicrobials?
These are groups of tissues that work together to perform a specific function in the body.
What are organs?
Mutations in DNA can lead to this.
What is disease?
This is the structure of DNA.
What is a double helix? (spiral, twisted ladder, coiled structure)
This is the tough protein found in your hair and nails that we made from pipe cleaners.
What is keratin?
We used this jelly-like substance to grow bacteria in petri dishes.
What is agar?
A microscope does this to help us see things we can't with our naked eye.
What is magnification?
In lab experiments, scientists use this group to ensure their results are not due to chance.
What is a control group?