The Children's Museum of Indianapolis

Introduction
Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Lesson 3
	Experience 1
	Experience 2
	Resources
Culminating Experience
National Standards

Resources:

Tips for teacher:

	Have students use science journals or lab notebooks to record observations and notes.
	Before isolating DNA, review lab safety, measuring accurately and contamination procedures.
	Do not use toasted wheat germ.
	A glass stirring rod or long cotton swab can be used to isolate the DNA instead of a wooden stick.
	Be sure students shake gently in Step 5. It helps to minimize the amount of foam to be removed in Step 6. (See DNA Extraction Handout.)
	Laminate the DNA Extraction Handout, so it can be used more than once.
	Contact the Biotechnology Learning Center staff at biotech@childrensmuseum.org for help with the extraction.

Bonus Extending Experiences
	DNA can be extracted from onions, strawberries and kiwi as well. Check out this Website for protocols.
	Try the DNA Dance©; see University of Wisconsin Website for directions.
	Turn this activity into an experiment by having the students change a variable, such as the amount of soap used, or the temperature of the water and/or alcohol.
	See how many words students can make using the letters found in the words deoxyribonucleic acid.

Resources:
For the Students:
Websites:

	The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Biotechnology Learning Center
	Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
	Gene CRC

Books:

	Balkwill Fran, and Mic Rolph. Have a Nice DNA. China: Cold Springs Harbor Laboratory Press, 2002.
	Balkwill Fran, and Mic Rolph. Gene Machines. China: Cold Springs Harbor Laboratory Press, 2002.
	Aronson, Billy. They Came from DNA. New York: W.H. Freeman and Company, 1993.

Student Handouts:

	The Ladder of Life
	Extracting DNA From Wheat Germ

For the Teacher:
Websites:

	The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Biotechnology Learning Center
	Genetics Science Learning Center at the University of Utah
	University of California, Davis
	Saskatchewan Agricultural Biotechnology Information Center
	Department of Soil and Crop Sciences at Colorado State University
	Purdue University

Books:

Zinnen, Tom, Fun Food Stuff. Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Biotechnology Education Outreach Center

Museum Links
Let the museum teach this experience for you! Sign up for the museum's DNA Extraction facilitated program in the Biotechnology Learning Center, at The Children's Museum. See our Website for a current listing of programs, dates and times.