After science classroom instruction with their teacher Mrs. Claudia Carle, including the use of simulations from the New Path interactive computer software, all of the eighth grade students at the Academy took part in the creation of a DNA model. The students were able to demonstrate their knowledge of the structure and function of the nucleic acid molecules that make up DNA. Their model represented a 200 base pair segment of the human genome which contains a DNA sequence of over 3 billion base pairs!


The photographs show the completed DNA chain representing the genetic sequence for hemoglobin found in human blood using over 1400 K'NEX pieces! They demonstrated their STEM (science, technology, engineering & math) knowledge of genetics very well and had lots of fun constructing and connecting their models together.