======Origami DNA Model======


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**Alternative titles:** Paper DNA Model, Folding a DNA Double Helix
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
  - Print out the origami DNA templates (colored or blank) from the text link below.
  - Fold according to the instructions and video to form a double helix of DNA.



====Links==== 
DNA origami: how to fold a double helix - yourgenome: 
{{youtube>0jOapfqVZlo?}}\\
📄 Origami DNA (Coloured model) - yg: [[https://www.yourgenome.org/theme/origami-dna/]]\\
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Building the Paper Model of DNA - RCSBProteinDataBank: 
{{youtube>EweN-gW2bEM?}}\\
📄 DNA Paper Model (similar, but has molecular model printed on) - PDB 101: [[https://pdb101.rcsb.org/learn/paper-models/dna]]\\

====Variations====
  * Use the blank template for students to practice DNA base-pairing before folding.  
  * Create longer DNA models by printing and connecting multiple templates.  
  * Write a short genetic code (a sequence of bases) along the folded DNA to represent real genes.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Use scissors carefully when cutting out templates.  
  * Ensure younger students have supervision during cutting and folding.  
  * Keep paper scraps tidy to avoid clutter or slipping hazards.




====Questions to Consider====
  * What do the “rungs” of the DNA origami ladder represent? (Base pairs between adenine-thymine and cytosine-guanine.)  
  * Why is the DNA structure described as a double helix? (Because two strands twist around each other like a spiral staircase.)  
  * How does this paper model help us visualize DNA more easily than looking at chemical diagrams? (It makes the 3D shape tangible and easier to understand.)  
  * What role do complementary base-pairing rules play in DNA replication? (They ensure that DNA copies are accurate, with each strand serving as a template for the other.)