A Simulation of DNA Sequencing Utilizing 3M Post-it® Notes - read online free

Oct 15, 2026

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An inexpensive, equipment-free classroom approach for teaching the technical aspects of DNA sequencing using colored 3M Post-it® notes. The method includes an instructor-led familiarity requirement with sequencing technology, then guides students through a wet-lab overview and a “dry lab” simulation of key steps. After the simulation, students determine nucleotide sequences of genes, confirm gene names, and use results to support literature review and writing projects; workshop feedback from Nebraska teachers is included.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Materials and preparation

Step 1: Unknown single-stranded gene sequence

Step 2: Primer generation

Step 3: Components for Sanger sequencing

A Simulation of DNA Sequencing Utilizing 3M Post-it® Notes. Doug Christensen Wayne State College, 223 Carhart Science, 1111 N. Main Wayne NE, 68787 Email: [dochris1@wsc.edu](dochris1@wsc.edu) Abstract: An inexpensive and equipment free approach to teaching the technical aspects of DNA sequencing. The activity described requires an instructor with a familiarity of DNA sequencing technology but provides a straightforward method of teaching the technical aspects of sequencing in the absence of expensive sequencing equipment. The final sequence analysis can be used as a springboard to a number of activities including literature reviews and writing projects. Keywords: DNA sequencing, low technology Introduction As a teaching professional in the area of molecular biology, I have seen a substantial increase of student interest in learning how bands on X-ray film or within a gel can be interpreted as irrefutable evidence. Many small colleges and universities have little or no molecular equipment which they can utilize to foster the interest their students show in learning more about the topic. This article provides informed college professors with a simulation of DNA sequencing that can be easily depicted with four colors of 3M Postit® notes. The article will describe how DNA sequencing is carried out in a wet lab and will provide a dry lab simulation of the critical steps of the process. Upon completing the “dry lab”, students will be able to determine the nucleotide sequence of genes, confirm the names of those genes and, if desired, use this as a starting point for generating a literature review based paper on the role these genes play in diverse organisms. This novel technique was presented to secondary science teachers (during a 2 hour session) from around the state of Nebraska in a workshop for Rural Academic Secondary School Science Partnership (RASSSP) . It was found very useful by all participants and comments by these teachers are included at the end of the article. Materials (listed per student or group) Approximately 200 sheets (73 mm x 73 mm) each of four Post-it® note colors. In this example yellow, pink, orange and green sheets were utilized. INSTRUCTOR PREPARATION (Preparation time per student or group is approximately 20 minutes) . STEP 1 – Simulation of an “unknown” singlestranded gene sequence. Obtain a sequence from The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) website (see instructions under IDENTIFICATION OF YOUR GENE FRAGMENT) or utilize one or more of the gene sequence fragments provided (see appendix A) . It is recommended that if choosing a gene sequence from NCBI on your own, that you utilize bacterial or viral genes to eliminate confusion that may result from introns present within eukaryotic genes. Representing the sequence with Post-it® notes is carried out by assigning a colored Post-it® note to each of the four types of nucleotides. The following code is suggested: Yellow sheets represent the base adenine. Pink sheets represent the base guanine. Green sheets represent the base cytosine. Orange sheets represent the base thymine. For example, a gene fragment with a known sequence of GATCGTCAC would be represented with Postit® notes that were stuck together in the following sequence: pink-yellow-orange-green-pink-orangegreen-yellow-green. The sequence of Post-it® notes will serve as “template DNA” in our sequencing reaction (described below) and should be about 25 sheets (nucleotides) in length. Shorter sequences may result in less specificity when gene identification is carried out. STEP 2: Generation of primers. For each gene sequence generated in step 1 (above) you will need to generate approximately ten“primers” that are each the same four nucleotides in length. A primer is a short segment of nucleic acid that will hybridize (form hydrogen bonds between bases of nucleotides) to complementary DNA at a designated location and provide a chemical structur

FAQs

What is the main purpose of using 3M Post-it® notes in this DNA sequencing activity?

To provide an inexpensive, equipment-free way to teach the technical steps of DNA sequencing through a “dry lab” simulation.

How do students represent DNA nucleotides in the simulation?

Each nucleotide type is mapped to a specific Post-it® color (adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine), and the ordered notes form the template DNA sequence.

What components are needed for the Sanger sequencing simulation?

Polymerase, primers, template DNA, and both deoxynucleotides and dideoxynucleotides, each represented by appropriate Post-it® note sheets.

Oct 15, 2026

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