Origami DNA Model

This hands-on activity uses paper folding (origami) to create a model of the DNA double helix. By folding and coloring paper strips, students can explore how complementary base pairs (A with T, C with G) form the steps of the twisted ladder structure of DNA.

1. Print out the origami DNA templates (colored or blank) from the text link below.
2. Fold according to the instructions and video to form a double helix of DNA.

DNA origami: how to fold a double helix - yourgenome:

📄 Origami DNA (Coloured model) - yg: https://www.yourgenome.org/theme/origami-dna/

Building the Paper Model of DNA - RCSBProteinDataBank:

📄 DNA Paper Model (similar, but has molecular model printed on) - PDB 101: https://pdb101.rcsb.org/learn/paper-models/dna

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.)