Making the Cut with CRISPR-Cas9©

Your students have heard about CRISPR, now, they can model how this protein can modify DNA. With Making the Cut with CRISPR-Cas9©’s colorful foam pieces and placemat, your students can build an interactive model of the CRISPR-Cas9 RNA-guided endonuclease, including the viral double-stranded DNA and dual guide RNA. Build a schematic model of the CRISPR-Cas9 RNA-guided endonuclease, including the viral double-stranded DNA and dual-guide RNA Understand how the Cas9 protein binds to a specific sequence of viral double-stranded DNA at a PAM site - and cuts it Demonstrate how that cut destroys the viral genome and prevents the infection of bacteria Amplify their learning with student handouts and digital materials You can observe students transferring their prior knowledge of DNA structure while modeling how the Cas9 protein functions.