Customer Reviews

K'NEX Educational DNA, Replications and Transcription Set

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I used this product with high schoolers taking level biology. I thought the hands on approach was fantastic. I was disapointed in the quantity inside each kit. I needed two kits to cover a room and my classes were on the small side. For the cost I think that the total number of small kits that can be made is disapointing.

.

.

. There are likeable features about this kit, the minute you open that Plastic Storage Box it comes in.

(A) The instructions are printed in huge print on a giant booklet about the size of full
sheet of 8-1/2" X 11" paper.

(B) The instructions are in vivid color. It does not come with large wordy passages of information.
The instructions for the construction of the Double Helix are in huge print, that even those with difficulty reading small print, will find easy to read and follow.

(C) On the very back of the big instruction book, are very large pictures of each type of part.

(D) The parts (Nucleotides) are large and there are Five Hundred and Twenty Five (525) pieces in total to work with.

(E) When you are done working with the parts and book, you put it all back in the plastic storage Case and snap the plastic lid back on. That is a very nice feature. It saves about $10.00 for an additional storage container purchase.

I rate this produce pretty good. It is designed for Ages 10 and up (or Grades 5-9) and it is easy to work with. The Ten and UP age bracket seems to be the market standard for these things, although I think that this model would be useful for more advanced ages. The parts more closely resemble the real thing.

.

There is no "lab equipment" with this kit and there is nothing about the familiar Tomato Experiment; but as a model of the Double Helix of DNA to study, it is very good to work with.

It comes with a DVD as a "Teacher's Guide".

Also, I called the company with some questions, and they did take the time to talk to me and answer everything.

.

.

.

.

Students definitely respond positively to this K'Nex model! It allows physical demonstration of not only the structure of DNA, but also replication and transcription. "Breaking" the hydrogen bonds, copying the template, even imagining how the ribosome reads the RNA for protein synthesis are much easier for students to comprehend with K'Nex.

I was inspired by a similar DNA kit in high school. I now work in the genetics field and am glad to have a giant double helix hanging in my room. would be nice if it came with a kit to hang it from the ceiling to show it off when finished- i made one out of fishing line. lots of parts, great storage container, accurate lessons.

I thought I knew how genes replicated and then formed strands of DNA which in turn became chromosomes. Surprisingly, K'NEX added to my knowledge and helped me visualize the formation at an intermediate level, not the mico level of electrons and energy levels, and not the macro level of genes uniting to form the chromosomes. However it does require an instructor, it is hard to gain all that is available from self instruction. Two people, or even more, working cojointly can help instruct each other. That is my only caveat, one might learn alone but it is much more possible in groups or with an instructor. I highly recommend it.

I bought this for my Anatomy/Physiology class I teach to high school students. It was a great help to have the teacher's guide to walk me through presenting it to my class. After the class my students told me they understood DNA and RNA much better. Although pricey, I highly recommend this product.