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K'NEX Education: DNA, Replication and Transcription Building Set is the perfect way to teach kids through building 3-D models of DNA and RNA, as well as the replication and transcription. Please be aware that this is NOT just a simple building toy for kids that is self-explanatory The kit contains all the physical parts with which to build the models, but the real information is in the comprehensive teacher's guide. In the CD-rom you will find a guide for you to teach students about all the phosphate groups, the sugars: deoxyribose and ribose, hydrogen bonds, codons, nucleotides, and the molecular basis of heredity. Here are some projects listed: Parent DNA molecule, unwound Parent DNA model as a flexible double helix Parent DNA molecule, stand-mounted Two parent/daughter DNA molecules, unwound Two parent/daughter DNA molecules, stand-mounted Large parent/daughter DNA molecule, flexible Two mRNA molecules transcribed from DNA molecule If you are not a science teacher or not a science buff there's a huge amount of information that homeschooling teachers or other classroom teachers will have to study and understand in order to teach students. Once you're familiar with the material you will be able to create lessons for students of a wide age range. You will no doubt be able to tailor your lessons for older kids (middle school and beyond), teens, as well as adults. The guide makes the lessons easy to conceive, and teaching by building will help the information to stick with your students. The kit makes it easy to store all the parts as it comes in a sturdy plastic container with a snap tight lid. Container also has movable dividers. The parts are easy to snap together and to take apart again. They are color coded as well as come in differing shapes. Like all K'Nex toys and models they can be interchanged with other kits and sets. This set, however, would be best to use as is in order to best serve the purpose for which it was created: as a teaching tool and a model that specifically demonstrates DNA and mRNA molecules and processes. RECOMMENDED FOR EDUCATORS

K'NEX Education: DNA, Replication and Transcription Building Set is by far a great tool for any student wanting to understand more about DNA and how it works. It is packed in a waterproof re-sealable shallow tray. This makes this building set easy to store and easy to keep all of the many 525 pieces together. This set comes with a teaching guide in the form of a DVD and also a 20 page full color coded informational book as well. The book is very detailed in that it names all of the different types of nucleotides. It also transitions through the different processes of Replication of DNA and Transcription of DNA. Another great learning feature is that it is able to demonstrate the flexible double helix form. I would not recommend the product for small children because there a very small pieces. Other than the small pieces this would be a great for a teacher or parent that wants to familiarize their child or student with the DNA process.

This is very cool. My oldest child is learning about the DNA in school right now and this is a big plus for her now. She is going to use this as a school project to get extra credit . I think it will help the other kids to understand what they are learning too. This is not a toy but a learning aid. If your child is learning about DNA then this may help.

We had bought many K'Nex toys throughout the years. This K'Nex Education set appears to be a premium product compared to the regular K'Nex sets. Rather than a cardboard box, the set is in a plastic container for easy storage. Inside, there are bags of bricks as well as step-by-step instructions on how to build the double helix DNA. There is also a CD which contains a PDF of the teacher's guide. I am turned off that this guide was not included in a hard copy form with the set. Why make a customer fire up a computer to just print out the black and white 46 page PDF??? With the CD, I was expecting some interactive learning or video but all I got was the PDF. The DNA information in the guide is gear toward high schoolers with scientific terms, concepts and molecular diagrams. Younger students may lose interest in such detailed discussions. The guide contains various lessons for a teacher to introduce the topic and then have the student(s) build it. The included hardcopy building instruction booklet is about the same as the regular K'Nex. There are no details about DNA in the building booklet. It would have been much more helpful to integrate the information in the teacher's guide into the building booklet. A student can learn the details first before building it. This set is best for a 9th grader or older. Younger kids may be too overwhelmed with too much information. Also, the parent/adult must take an active role in teaching the concepts by using the teacher's manual. Otherwise, the child may know how to build the DNA through the building instructions but not know anything about it. As such, this set may be better used in a classroom setting where there is a teacher to lead the learning process.

K'nex is the company who's motto is known as building worlds kids love and this set does not disappoint as an invaluable learning tool. This set can be used in a classroom setting with children in groups guided by a teacher, at home with a home school student or any child who has an interest in learning and having fun! The set is for hands on building to learn about DNA and RNA structure and the replication process by building models. The best feature of this product as it can be used over and over again by other students making it cost efficient. The set is recommended for ages 10+ and for grades 5-12. My college age daughter is using this set as a science project in her studies showing it's usefulness even for students in the college atmosphere. The first thing to note is the instruction guide is the CD which is included in the set. The CD is the key to understanding the structure and funtion. Included in the set as well is a 20 page colored glossy book showing what the models should look like when built. The set is in a hard plastic carrying and storage case. It contains 525 color coded plastic pieces. The pieces are easy to snap together to connect and easily unsnapped for replication and transcription activities. There is enough pieces to build 19 DNA and RNA models. The only downside of this product I can see it there is only enough materials to build 2 models at a time.

Just like the picture. Great instructions. Easy assembly.