Like the Trojan Horse was used to discretely deliver Greek soldiers to the Trojans, small DNA structures can be used to delivery drugs to cancer cells. These structures are folded using a technique called DNA origami. DNA origami uses a long, single strand of DNA, called the scaffold, and folds it using smaller, complimentary fragments of DNA. These structures can then be loaded with cancer treatment drugs, delivered directly to the unhealthy cells, and release the drugs, killing the cancer without affecting healthy cells.
The student handout will be given to all students working on the design challenge. It gives a brief recap of the story, it helps the students identify what they are attempting to achieve, and it recaps the design process.
This Instructor’s Guide provides the instructor additional information on how to run the design challenge with alternatives for materials and test setups as well as information to help make the design challenge a good educational experience.
The Telling the Story Video conveys the societal impact of the student’s research that is the basis for the design challenge and will set the problem-solving context for students.
The Design Challenge Video leads students through the design process. It indicates materials available, states what the criteria are for success and any constraints. It also gives a second ‘level’ of the design challenge that allows ‘early completers’ to move on to a slightly more difficult challenge.
There is also a PowerPoint presentation available that was used in the original design challenge implementation.