1. Locate
Where are chromosomes in a typical nucleated body cell?
Help beside the question
Read or point first. Identify the nucleus.
Answer guidance
In the nucleus.
Genetic information: cell to gene
Learning objective
Relate nucleus, chromosome, DNA, gene and genome using an accurate nested model.
40 minutes · one route · start from what you show today. Point, speak, sign, draw, write or direct an adult. An adult may read or scribe your exact words. Choose one route; do not complete all three.
LAUNCH · GCSE BIOLOGY FOUNDATION · W12 · LESSON 1 · 4 MINUTES
Four clues to start
Supported · 4 questions
2. Material
What information-carrying molecule is in chromosomes?
Help beside the question
Read or point first. Use the three-letter name.
Answer guidance
DNA.
3. Section
What do we call a section of DNA containing information for a protein?
Help beside the question
Read or point first. Gene or genome?
Answer guidance
A gene.
4. Whole
What is an organism’s genome?
Help beside the question
Read or point first. The complete collection, not one section.
Answer guidance
All of its DNA.
Standard · 4 questions
1. Locate
Where are chromosomes in a typical nucleated body cell?
Help beside the question
Identify the nucleus.
Answer guidance
In the nucleus.
2. Material
What information-carrying molecule is in chromosomes?
Help beside the question
Use the three-letter name.
Answer guidance
DNA.
3. Section
What do we call a section of DNA containing information for a protein?
Help beside the question
Gene or genome?
Answer guidance
A gene.
4. Whole
What is an organism’s genome?
Help beside the question
The complete collection, not one section.
Answer guidance
All of its DNA.
Stretch · 4 questions
1. Locate
Where are chromosomes in a typical nucleated body cell?
Help beside the question
Identify the nucleus.
Answer guidance
In the nucleus.
2. Material
What information-carrying molecule is in chromosomes?
Help beside the question
Use the three-letter name.
Answer guidance
DNA.
3. Section
What do we call a section of DNA containing information for a protein?
Help beside the question
Gene or genome?
Answer guidance
A gene.
4. Whole
What is an organism’s genome? Give a reason.
Help beside the question
The complete collection, not one section.
Answer guidance
All of its DNA. Accept a scientifically correct reason that uses the relevant model or evidence.
LAUNCH · GCSE BIOLOGY FOUNDATION · W12 · LESSON 1 · 4 MINUTES
Choose a first idea
Which statement is accurate?
Think or discuss first. No answer chosen yet.
LAUNCH · GCSE BIOLOGY FOUNDATION · W12 · LESSON 1 · 5 MINUTES
Watch the model
A typical body cell has a nucleus containing chromosomes. These pictures are not drawn to scale.
Worked explanation · reveal after thinking
A cell-to-gene zoom is a schematic, not a literal scale model. Not every cell has a nucleus and some DNA is outside the nucleus. For this Foundation model use a typical nucleated body cell. The ladder is two-dimensional; real DNA is three-dimensional.
32-second silent captioned explainer · optional
No sound or autoplay. Use instead of part of the modelling time, not as an extra activity.
Full transcript
Locate the chromosome. A typical body cell has a nucleus containing chromosomes. These pictures are not drawn to scale.
Unpack the DNA. Each chromosome contains a long DNA molecule. A gene is a section of that DNA.
Pair the bases. A pairs with T and C pairs with G. Each nucleotide contains a sugar, phosphate and base.
Twist the ladder. Two DNA strands form a double helix. Weak hydrogen bonds hold complementary bases together.
LAUNCH · GCSE BIOLOGY FOUNDATION · W12 · LESSON 1 · 5 MINUTES
Sort using the evidence
Choose a card, then choose a group. Explain one placement using its clue.
Drag, or use Tab and Enter to select a card and its group. Pointing or adult-directed placement works too.
Cell structure
Genetic molecule or section
Whole collection
Choose a card first.
Read the card clues
Nucleus: Contains chromosomes in a typical body cell.
Cell membrane: Bounds the cell, not a gene.
DNA: The information-carrying polymer.
Gene: A section of DNA with information for a protein.
Genome: All the DNA of an organism.
Chromosome: A long DNA molecule packaged with proteins.
Would a small change help? · optional
Ask the lesson teacher for clearer labels, fewer cards, reading help, an adult-directed model or more thinking time. Your teacher will explain what can change, try it and check its effect. Ask privately or pass; no extra form is needed.
Group explanations · reveal after sorting
Nucleus → Cell structure. Contains chromosomes in a typical body cell.
Cell membrane → Cell structure. Bounds the cell, not a gene.
DNA → Genetic molecule or section. The information-carrying polymer.
Gene → Genetic molecule or section. A section of DNA with information for a protein.
Genome → Whole collection. All the DNA of an organism.
Chromosome → Genetic molecule or section. A long DNA molecule packaged with proteins.
LAUNCH · GCSE BIOLOGY FOUNDATION · W12 · LESSON 1 · 4 MINUTES
Work through one example
Worked example
Explain why a gene is not a separate small container inside DNA.
Step 1
A chromosome includes a long DNA molecule.
Step 2
A gene is a particular section of that molecule.
Step 3
Mark a section on a drawn strand, rather than drawing a new box inside it.
Step 4
The genome is the whole collection of DNA, not one highlighted gene.
LAUNCH · GCSE BIOLOGY FOUNDATION · W12 · LESSON 1 · 4 MINUTES
Repair a faulty zoom
A pupil writes: “Cell → gene → nucleus → DNA → chromosome.” Replace this with an accurate model and label the relationships.
| Relationship | Complete the phrase |
|---|---|
| Typical cell → nucleus | The cell contains a… |
| Nucleus → chromosomes | The nucleus contains… |
| Chromosome → DNA | A chromosome contains a long molecule of… |
| DNA → gene | A gene is a section of… |
Worked explanation · reveal after thinking
A typical cell contains a nucleus; the nucleus contains chromosomes; a chromosome contains a long DNA molecule; a gene is a section of that DNA. The genome means all the organism’s DNA, not another small part.
LAUNCH · GCSE BIOLOGY FOUNDATION · W12 · LESSON 1 · 10 MINUTES
Show your understanding
Supported · choose one route
1. Model
Draw and label the relationships from cell to gene.
Use the label cards. Add “contains”, “packaged as” or “section of” between two labels before building the chain.
2. Compare
How does one gene differ from the genome?
Highlight one gene on a DNA strand. Compare one section with all the DNA. Complete: gene ___; genome ___.
3. Apply
Why can a chromosome carry many genes?
Draw one long DNA strand and bracket three separate sections. Complete: one chromosome can carry many genes because ___.
Standard · choose one route
1. Model
Draw and label the relationships from cell to gene.
Use contains / contains / section of.
2. Compare
How does one gene differ from the genome?
A selected section versus the whole collection.
3. Apply
Why can a chromosome carry many genes?
DNA is long and has many sections.
Stretch · choose one route
1. Model
Draw and label the relationships from cell to gene.
Use contains / contains / section of.
2. Compare
How does one gene differ from the genome?
A selected section versus the whole collection.
3. Model limits
Why is a simple zoom picture useful but not a literal scale model?
Compare relative sizes, packaging and exceptions.
LAUNCH · GCSE BIOLOGY FOUNDATION · W12 · LESSON 1 · 4 MINUTES
Two small checks
Supported · 2 questions
1. Relate
Complete: A chromosome contains a long molecule of __; a gene is a __ of it.
Help beside the question
Use: my answer is ___ because ___. Point to a model or card first. Use DNA and section.
Answer guidance
DNA; section.
2. Correct
Correct “a gene contains a whole chromosome”.
Help beside the question
Use: my answer is ___ because ___. Point to a model or card first. Reverse the relationship without making a gene a separate box.
Answer guidance
A chromosome contains DNA, and a gene is a section of that DNA.
Standard · 2 questions
1. Relate
Complete: A chromosome contains a long molecule of __; a gene is a __ of it.
Help beside the question
Use DNA and section.
Answer guidance
DNA; section.
2. Correct
Correct “a gene contains a whole chromosome”.
Help beside the question
Reverse the relationship without making a gene a separate box.
Answer guidance
A chromosome contains DNA, and a gene is a section of that DNA.
Stretch · 2 questions
1. Relate
Complete: A chromosome contains a long molecule of __; a gene is a __ of it.
Help beside the question
Use DNA and section.
Answer guidance
DNA; section.
2. Model limits
Why is a simple zoom picture useful but not a literal scale model?
Help beside the question
Compare relative sizes, packaging and exceptions.
Answer guidance
It makes containment and section relationships clear, but omits real scale and DNA packaging; it represents a typical nucleated cell rather than every cell.
Keep one useful science explanation. No additional participation record is required.