Class DNA Project- FRANKENSTEIN

Directions: You will be assigned one gene to contribute to our class Frankenstein.
Using the chart, decipher which sequence of DNA nucleotides codes for that
particular trait. For example, if you are assigned eye color, we will be using your traits. Therefore, if you have
blue eyes, you must color in the eyes blue. If your class is also making a class DNA paper model, follow the
chart to determine which DNA sequence codes for blue eyes, and use that sequence to make your paper
model.

Once you have determined the sequence, use the cut-outs to create your DNA (remember DNA is DOUBLE
stranded, so you will have to figure out the complementary strand as well). Then, add your DNA sequence in
the allotted spot. Again, using eye color as the example, you would see it is gene # 7. Therefore, you would
place your DNA code as the seventh code, in numerical order.

Once you have the DNA, you must then contribute to the class drawing of our Frankenstein. So once again,
using the eye color example, you would be responsible for coloring in blue eyes!

Tip: Figure out Sex of the “Frankenstein” FIRST! (See #25)

If your class is also making a DNA model, work on your model while you are waiting to draw or color your
trait onto the class Frankenstein! If you are not making a model, please be patient! Each one of your will
contribute to the class Frankenstein with your assigned trait! Be sure to pay attention to the special
directions.

© Biology Roots, LLC www.biology-roots.com Vanessa Jason. Single classroom use only. Not for public display.
Gene # Trait Special Directions
1 Height Trace your body in pencil; lightly trace head
area- do NOT trace your hands OR feet
2 Jaw/face shape You may do some small erasures along head
area if you need to- keep the height
3 Ear size (small, average, large) Be sure to color in with skin color
4 Earlobe (attached or unattached) and Ear size Do not draw until earlobes are determined
5 Skin color (dark, medium, light) Color HEAD LAST, after all facial features are
included
6 Hair texture (curly, straight, wavy) Make sure ears are there before hair is
added!
7 Hair color Do NOT color until hair texture is determined
8 Eye shape (almond, round, or a little of both) Wait until eye color is determined
9 Eye color Wait until eye shape is determined to color
10 Eyebrows thickness (bushy, thin or intermediate- Wait until eyebrow shape is determined
MUST follow hair color) before drawing
11 Eyebrow shape (arched, average, straight) Wait until eyebrow thickness is determined
before drawing
12 Freckles or no freckles
13 Nose (small, medium, large)
14 Nose shape (pointed, average, rounded) Do not draw until nose size is determined!
15 Lip Shape (full, average, thin) Lip color is separate; wait until it is
determined
16 Lip color (purplish, brownish, pinkish) Do not draw until lip shape is determined
17 Chin shape (broad, average, narrow, pointed)
18 Cleft chin or non-cleft chin Wait until chin shape is determined before
adding a cleft if necessary
19 Dimples or no dimples
20 Widows Peak or no widow’s peak
21 Fingers (long ,short, average)
22 Cheek shape (rounded, average, high cheek-
bones)
23 Cheek color (rosy or non-rosy) Do not color until cheek shape is determined
24 Feet (large, average, small)
25 Assume that our class Frankenstein already has
one X-chromosome. If you are a girl- you only
have X chromosomes, therefore you can only have
another girl.

If you are a boy- you have both an X and a Y

chromosome and must flip a coin. Heads= X- GIRL
Tails=Y -BOY

When you are done, sign your name on the Frankenstein in an inconspicuous place (small around the border).
If you want, you can write which trait you contributed!

Step 1) Find the trait that has been assigned Step 2) Find the corresponding DNA based on your phenotype
and HIGHLIGHT it. Step 3) Make your DNA paper model while you wait for your turn/others to take their turn
to draw traits to create your class Frankenstein!

© Biology Roots, LLC www.biology-roots.com Vanessa Jason. Single classroom use only. Not for public display.
 Trait/Gene #1 DNA code
1) Height Short= CCA AAA GGG
Average = CCA AAA GCC Tall= CCA AAA CCC
2) Jaw/head shape Round= GGT TAT ACA
Square= GGT TGG ACA Triangular= GGT TGG ACC
3) Ear Size Small= AAA TCC GTA
Average= AAA TCC GAC Large=AAA TCA GAC
4) Earlobe attachment Attached= GAG CTT TAA
Unattached= GAG CTA TAA
5) Skin color Dark= TAC CCC AAG
Medium= TAC CCC AGG Light= TAC CCC GGG
6) Hair Texture Curly= CCC GGG AAA
Wavy= CCC GGG TAA Straight= CCC GGG TTA
7) Hair color Dark= ACT TAC TAC
Medium= ACT TAC TAG Light= ATT TAC TAG
8) Eye shape Almond= GCG CCG ATG
Intermediate= GCG CCG GTA Round= GCG CCG ATA
9) Eye color Brown= AAA TTT CCC
Non-brown= AAT TTT CGC
10) Eyebrow thickness Bushy= CAC GAG TAT
Average= CAC GAA TAA Thin= CAC AAA TAA
11) Eyebrow Shape Arched= AAT CCG GGT
Intermediate= AAT CCG GTT Straight= AAT CCG TGT
12) Freckles
13) Nose size Large= TCT TGG AAC Small= TCT TAA AAA
Average= TCT TGA AAA
14) Nose shape Pointed= ACC CGA TA Rounded= ACC GGA TTC
Average= ACC CGA TTC
15) Lip shape Full= GAG ACT CCC Thin = GAG ACT AAA`
Average= GAG ACT CCA
16) Lip color Purplish= CAG TTT AAA Pinkish= CAG AAT ACA
Brownish=CAG TAT ACC
17) Chin shape Broad= ATA CCC ATA Narrow=` ATA CCT ATT
Average= ATA CCC ATT
18) Chin Cleft or No cleft Cleft= TCC CCT GGC
No Cleft= TCC CCT AAA
19) Dimples Dimples= ACG GCA AAA
No dimples= ACG GCA CTT
20) Widow’s Peak Widow’s Peak= GTT TAG GCA
No widow’s Peak= GTT TAA GTC
21) Fingers Long= CAT ATC GGG Short= CAT ATT GTT
Average= CAT ATT GGT
22) Cheek shape Rounded= CAC GGA TTC High Cheek Bones= CAC GGG TAA
Average= CAC GGG TTA
23) Cheek color Rosy= AAA TGC CCA
Nonrosy= AAA CCC CCT
24) Feet Large= GAA TCT TCT Small= GAA TAA TAC
Average= GAA TCT TAA
25) Sex Male= AAA TTT GCA Female= AAA TTT TCC

© Biology Roots, LLC www.biology-roots.com Vanessa Jason. Single classroom use only. Not for public display.
Some notes for the teacher…
What is the DNA Class Frankenstein?
Simply put: the DNA Class Frankenstein is a collaborative project that includes a bit of every student’s
phenotypes. Combined, it makes the class Frankenstein.

What is the DNA paper model this activity refers to?

Page 3 is only required if you are making a paper model. If you unsure- you can find one as a resource in my shop:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/DNA-Model-Paper-Project-363552

I recommend doing some sort of paper model while doing a DNA class Frankenstein because there is a lot of downtime
while creating the Frankenstein as students need to add the traits in an orderly fashion, and only about 1-3 students
should be working on the Frankenstein at a time.

Paper models combined with this activity help students connect the structure of DNA with its phenotypic results!

However, you can have them do any activity you wish during the downtime.

What type of paper should we use to create our Frankenstein?

Suggested paper for the class Frankenstein:

https://www.amazon.com/Borden-Riley-Drawing-Paper-
yards/dp/B003XKGPEY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1476326726&sr=8-4&keywords=large+paper+roll

I like this paper because it is wide enough and at 10 yards in length it will be the perfect length assuming you have 5
classes with an average of 6’ tall students!

Other tips and hints:

1- Assign students their trait – the easiest way is to count them off to 25. If you have more than 25 students in your
class, you have students share some traits such as finger length and foot size (divide the trait among two
students so that each student has their own hand or foot instead of one student doing both). One year, in a
class of 30 kids, we had to include tongue roll and belly button!

2- Encourage your students to read their special directions (For example- the student that determines the hair color
should not draw it until hair texture is determined or vice versa).

3- Students should sign their class Frankenstein when they are done on the border! They can add which trait they
contributed if they would like.

4- One thing I like to do is make a transparency copy of page 2 and put it on the projector so that students can check
off their trait when they are done to help everyone keep track of the progress.

© Biology Roots, LLC www.biology-roots.com Vanessa Jason. Single classroom use only. Not for public display.