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DNA: How Far Should We Go with What We Know?

By KRISTEN STERNBERG
NIE EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT

Imagine a world where no person is wrongly convicted of a crime, where the foods we eat make us resistant to diseases, where it is possible to grow a new arm if we lose one. Scientists are rapidly making important discoveries in all of these areas, and more, through their research into DNA.

DNA is a substance inside our bodies (and all other living things) that stores information. DNA holds the keys to every single thing about us-how tall we will grow to be, the color of our hair, the size of our toes-and much, much more. Even more interesting is the fact that no two people in the world have exactly the same combinations, or patterns, of DNA. We're all different!

Scientists have recently learned many of DNA's secrets. Using this knowledge, some are researching how to change, or modify, DNA to stop the growth of diseases in our bodies. Others are working to make our foods more nutritious. Do you think that a world without disease, or otherwise improved, may someday be possible?

Now imagine a world where every person looks, speaks and thinks exactly alike. Think about how DNA therapy might become an issue, such as with cloning. The News-Journal recently offered an article that you should read about the implications of cloning.

What do you think about how we should use the knowledge we have? Do you believe that cloning is a good idea? How about "genetic modification," changing the substance of the foods we eat?

Check out the rest of this site to learn more about DNA and DNA research.

Try these fun activities using The News-Journal!

  1. The letters that make up the word DNA (pronounced "dee-en-AY") stand for the long, scientific phrase "[d]eoxyribo[n]ucleic [a]cid." DNA is an "initialism," a word made by using letters (initials) taken from a longer phrase. Initialisms like DNA are usually written in uppercase letters. Other examples of initialisms are "TV" and "ASPCA." If you don't know what they stand for, you can look them up or ask someone around you.

    Initialisms look a lot like their cousins, "acronyms." The word "radar" is an example of an acronym. Just like an initialism, it's a word that's been formed from a longer phrase: "Radar" comes from [ra]dio [d]etecting [a]nd [r]anging. The big difference between initialisms and acronyms is that with initialisms you read and pronounce their letters one by one ("CD" is one example). With an acronym, you pronounce it as if it were a word ("radar" is pronounced like "ray-dar." Here are a couple more acronyms: "laser" and "scuba." Give yourself a pat on the back if you know or can figure out where either of these words came from. Give yourself two pats on the back if you look up the words in a dictionary so you're really sure what they mean!

    Now, set an automatic timer for 10 minutes, or ask someone to let you know when 10 minutes have passed. Using the newspaper, find as many examples of initialisms and acronyms you can. Then count how many examples you have that are 2 letters long (as in TV), 3 letters long (as in DNA), 4 letters, 5, and so on. Which "length" occurs most often? What is the average length of all your examples?

    Can you find one example for every letter of the alphabet? Start a collection of the two kinds of words by clipping and pasting them onto construction paper. Keep searching new issues of the newspaper until you have at least one initialism or acronym for each letter in our alphabet. (Sunshine State Standards: LA.A.1.2.2, LA.B.2.2.2, LA.D.1.2.1)


  2. Today you are learning some things about genetic modification of the plants and animals many of us eat. In the newspaper, find at least 10 different foods in pictures or words. Cut each one out and sort them by whether they are primarily plant (vegetable, fruit) or animal. Glue the pictures, in their proper categories, onto a piece of construction paper and hang it at home or in your classroom. (Sunshine State Standards: LA.A.2.2.1)


  3. Choose a topic from this web page (for example, DNA, proving innocence, etc.). Decide how you feel about that topic. Once you are sure of your opinion, look through the newspaper for editorial cartoons to use as models. Draw your own editorial cartoon on the topic you chose. (Sunshine State Standards: LA.A.2.2.5, LA.D.2.2.6, VA.A.1.2.1)


  4. The ability to map DNA molecules is a recent technological breakthrough. Much of this DNA mapping occurred in the 20th century. That century brought many, many other technological breakthroughs. Search the newspaper for pictures of items that did not exist before the 20th century. Try to find at least 5 items. Then write a poem about the items you found. (Sunshine State Standards: LA.B.1.2.2, LA.B.2.2.6, SS.A.1.2.3, SS.A.5.1.1)


  5. The study and mapping of DNA is a science Using your newspaper, find at least 3 other words that you are not familiar with, but that you expect are related to the field of science. Try to figure out what each word means. Then look up each word you find and write down its definition. (Sunshine State Standards: LA.A.1.2.2, LA.D.1.2.1)

A copy of Florida's Sunshine State Standards can be found at intech2000.miamisci.org.

Check out these links to learn more:

Find out how DNA works at What is DNA?

DNA molecules cluster together to form patterns that are different for all people, but the shape the clusters form is always the same. Examine a computer model of DNA. Also take a look at how scientists have identified, or mapped, DNA in humans.

How are DNA patterns identified? Find out about DNA's four components and how to crack the DNA code. Map your very own gene as you discover what DNA has to do with a jigsaw puzzle.

Do you know of the rare disease that prevents some people from ever being outside in the daylight - even for a short time? Click the link to find out more about this disease and how DNA research is helping to find a solution.

Issues involving DNA are frequently in the news. Take a look at a recent newspaper article about a man who was proven innocent, thanks to DNA, after he had spent 18 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit.

Using knowledge of DNA to modify foods is becoming a common practice. Check out DNA for Dinner? for the full story and hands-on activities.

The Newspaper Association of America's web site contains links to many of our nation's and world's newspapers. Visit the site and check out some other newspapers to see if they have articles about bears or other wildlife. To access the newspapers at the site, select a state. Click on the "Internationals" button to view choices from other countries.

Published February 5, 2001

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