Description
Model DNA Fingerprinting with this digital resource! Your students will walk through the Three Steps of making a DNA Fingerprint. Then they use what they learned to create four DNA Fingerprints and solve a murder case!
All learning and instructions for the activity are included on the slides for them – truly no prep! Students can complete the activity on their own – or work in pairs.
DNA Fingerprint Activity includes:
- How are DNA Fingerprints Made? Fourteen interactive Google Slides that teach students the process, tools needed, and reason behind each step of DNA Fingerprinting. Students model the process of DNA Fingerprinting as they learn. (See details below)
- DNA Fingerprinting Notes: This graphic organizer provides students a place to record the steps of DNA Fingerprinting. It can be printed and completed on paper, or digitally on Google Slides
- DNA Fingerprinting Review: A self grading Google Form with 12 multiple choice questions, a perfect informal assessment to see what your students have learned.
- Complete Answer Key
- Teacher Guide for how to use the activity
All parts of this resource are editable!
Details – What your students will learn:
- First, students are introduced to the crime – the murder of Harry Monroe. Who did it? Blood spatter evidence suggests that the attacker was also injured. A blood sample is taken to make a DNA Fingerprint from.
- Students meet the three suspects, their possible motives and stated alibis. DNA samples are taken from them to compare with the blood at the crime scene.
- Three steps of DNA Fingerprinting:
- Cut the DNA with a Restriction Enzyme – students drag and drop ‘scissors’ that represent the restriction enzyme to cut samples of DNA into different sized pieces
- Copy the DNA Pieces with the PCR Machine – students make copies of each piece of DNA, and learn why this step is so important
- Separate DNA Pieces by Size with a Gel Electrophoresis Machine – Simple illustrations ‘zoom in’ on DNA in the gel, explain why the DNA moves through the gel, and why smaller pieces move quickly to the bottom while larger pieces get stuck near the top.
- Finally, students drag fragments of DNA through a ‘gel’, making four DNA Fingerprints (that of the crime scene blood and of the three suspects). The DNA FIngerprint of only one suspect matches the blood!
- Along the way students answer questions about what they learn by typing directly onto the Google Slides
I love seeing my students light up when they solve the case!
Take a look at the preview of the DNA Fingerprinting Activity!
What some happy teachers are saying about this resource in our Teachers Pay Teachers store:
Great resource! While we weren’t able to run a typical DNA fingerprinting lab due to COVID restrictions this was a great alternative. – Kaitlin D. May 21, 2021
My students loved learning how DNA testing is done and solving which person killed the victim. – John P. April 25, 2021
I gave this to my grade 12 students who were working from home/isolating and missed the hands-on simulation we did in class. It worked great and students were able to navigate the activity with ease. – Erin M. March 19, 2022
