Grades
5-6
CRISPR cut-and-paste
Students become the CRISPR "molecular scissors," using a guide to find one exact DNA sequence, cutting it, and pasting in a new one to change a trait. A paper-and-scissors model of real gene editing, for pennies a class.
What students do
- Use a guide to find one exact target sequence on a DNA strip
- Cut it out — the Cas9 "cut"
- Paste in a new sequence and read the changed trait off the key
What you'll need
Printed DNA strips, guide-RNA cards, an edit menu and trait key, scissors, and tape. About $2-5 a class.
Full quantities and costs are in the materials & cost sheet.
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↓ Slides (.pptx) Guide & worksheets
The facilitator script and printable worksheets for this lesson live in the full toolkit.