Sources
There are numerous write ups for this experiment available on the internet and elsewhere. I first experienced this lesson through UCSF’s Science and Health Education Partnership. I then tried it with Carolina Biological .
The estimates of the length of DNA in a human cell and the number of cells in the human body were taken from Wikipedia (from the Genome and Cell Biology articles).
Standards
Grade 7
Genetics
2. A typical cell of any organism contains genetic instructions that specify its traits. Those traits may be modified by environmental influences. As a basis for understanding this concept:
e. Students know DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the genetic material of living organisms and is located in the chromosomes of each cell.
Grades 9-12
Genetics
5. The genetic composition of cells can be altered by incorporation of exogenous DNA into the cells. As a basis for understanding this concept:
a. Students know the general structures and functions of DNA, RNA, and protein.