Looking for a fun science project to do at home? Join Katie and Adriana to create your own candy DNA and set some awesome goals!
This is a special video that combines an empowering activity with a science experiment! Check out the materials list below to gather everything you need for the experiment. To follow along with the video, you can use the free, printable worksheets below or just a blank sheet of paper!
Materials:
6-10 Toothpicks, two pieces of long stringy candy (licorice or sour punch straws work great), small bag of smaller round, soft candies (Mike and Ike’s, gum drops, gummy bears, or colored marshmallows), and scissors
Time Estimated:
15-20 minutes
Directions:
Create DNA color binding code (worksheet below).
Cut round candies in half.
Push half of a candy piece into the middle of a toothpick.
Add the matching color according to your binding code!
Repeat for 6-10 toothpicks.
Place your long string candy on each end of the toothpick.
Add 6-10 more toothpicks about 1 inch apart from each other to form a ladder!
Pinch both sides of the ladder and twist in opposite directions.
Think Like A Scientist:
What do the small candies represent?
What do the large candies represent?
How It Works:
DNA is a spiral staircase shape called a double helix. This is represented by the longer, twisting candy!
DNA is made up of base pairs. What do you think represents those? Correct! These base pairs are represented by the smaller candies on the toothpicks!
The DNA base pairs are super special because they act as a special code that tells our bodies what to look like! Isn’t that cool? These DNA molecules have the instructions for making brown hair, green eyes, and that brilliant mind in your head!
There are four different types of base pairs. In the video, we represent these with four different colors! The order that you put the different colored candies in is the key to telling your body if it should make your eyes brown or green!
Activity Worksheets:
Follow along with these free, printable worksheets!
Looking for more fun at home STEM activities for your young scientist? Check out our workbook full of exciting science experiments and empowering activities!
Learn more and purchase today!
