Crack the Code

A mystery can be solved with the right tools. Become immersed in genetics and DNA to solve a mysterious disease. The Crack the Code kit is an unique experience for a young biologist or future medical professional. In this DNA curriculum kit, students will discover the past, present, and future of DNA through hands-on experiments and activities, including extracting their own DNA. Additionally, students will understand the importance of DNA and how it is the building blocks of life. Crack the Code comes with a full-color Student Curriculum Workbook and Teacher Guide.

This kit contains activities and information that center around DNA, and applications in the health field. Students will discover how the intricacies, history, and necessity of DNA for life. As part of a special program from Home Science Tools, this Launch level kit will provide over 15 hours of knowledge, educating your student about DNA and its use in the medical field. It is suggested that your student has completed Penguin Parenting and Magnificent Magnification, or studied the concepts within them, prior to beginning Crack the Code.

In this kit, the student will partake in these fun activities:

1. Discover a medical mystery
2. Practice with Punnett squares and karyotypes
3. Model the two types of cell replication
4. Extract DNA from your own body
5. Use DNA's own language to crack the code
6. Apply scientific methods of studying DNA to a medical mystery
7. Show what you know about DNA by applying it to three new diseases or disorders

Use "Crack the Code" to answer questions such as:

• How do you get diseases?
• What makes me… me?
• What is DNA and what does it do?
• What is the future of gene therapy?

Our Crack the Code kit is a part of the Science Unlocked Launch series and is recommended for grades 8-12.

Interested in learning more? Check out our Student Workbook Sample and Teacher Guide Sample!  

More Information

• Safety Information (SDS)
• Student Workbook corrections:
• The codon charts on pages 37 and 38 have a capitalization error. The amino acid Glutamine should be abbreviated as GLN not GlN. The "L" is lowercase in the image provided.
• In "Just For Fun" on page 40, the directions should state "Fill in the family tree for that trait."
• Teacher Guide corrections:
• The answer to the question in the "Coding In DNA" section states GlN GlN GlN TYR, but should state GLN GLN GLN TYR. The "L" is lowercase in the answer provided.
• The answer to question 2 in the "Can You Code?" section states "CEG codes for GLN or glutamine." CEG should be CAG as it is in the question provided to students.

This kit contains:

• Bamboo Skewer
• Dishwashing Liquid
• 6 Sheets of Drawing Paper
• Fishing Line
• Glue Stick
• Isopropyl Alcohol
• Keyring
• 6 Modeling Doughs
• Plastic Cup
• 6 Salt Packets
• 3 Packs of Beads

• Scissors
• Water

• Learning outcome: A mystery can be solved with the right tools. Become immersed in genetics and DNA to solve a disease mystery.
• NGSS science standards alignment
• HS-LS1-1 Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the structure of DNA determines the structure of proteins which carry out the essential functions of life through systems of specialized cells.
• HS-LS3-1 Ask questions to clarify relationships about the role of DNA and chromosomes in coding the instructions for characteristic traits passed from parents to offspring.
• HS-LS3-2 Make and defend a claim based on evidence that inheritable genetic variations may result from: (1) new genetic combinations through meiosis, (2) viable errors occurring during replication, and/or (3) mutations caused by environmental factors.
• MS-LS3-1 Develop and use a model to describe why structural changes to genes (mutations) located on chromosomes may affect proteins and may result in harmful, beneficial, or neutral effects to the structure and function of the organism.