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Teach the concepts of the central dogma of biology with a hands on activity of building cute creatures (bug babies) from candy!  Students will practice transcribing DNA into RNA from a template, and then use the RNA sequence to build amino acids. Using a “protein decoder” will allow for translation of RNA into specific traits.  Bug babies will then be built using marshmallows and other household supplies; demonstrating firsthand how the alteration of a few nucleotides can result in very different organismal phenotypes.

Please cite this work as: 

Skyer, Melissa. (2019). Building creatures with the central dogma of biology. Opening the Pathway to Technician Careers: A Conference for Biology Teachers of Deaf Students, QUBES Educational Resources.

• BUG Babies - Central Dogma Worksheets - Skyer 2019.pdf(PDF | 2 MB)
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Researchers should cite this work as follows:

• Skyer, M. (2019). Building creatures with the central dogma of biology. Opening the Pathway to Technician Careers: A Conference for Biology Teachers of Deaf Students, QUBES Educational Resources. doi:10.25334/FF4P-JE38

  BibTex | EndNote

1. Activity Length
2. amino acids
3. Audience Level
4. central dogma
5. DNA
6. genotype
7. High School
8. Instructional Setting
9. introductory
10. Lab
11. Lecture
12. Less than 1 hour
13. Majors
14. Non-majors
15. nucleotides
16. phenotype
17. RNA
18. Teaching material
19. Undergraduate