protein synthesis makes sense writeup -...

Acknowledgement: This lab has been adapted from a presentation at the 1993 NABT convention in Boston by Bert and Lynn Marie Wartski, “Biology with Junk: Protein Synthesis and Words.”

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PROTEIN SYNTHESIS MAKES SENSE! Anita Gordon

Modified by: Marianne Dobrovolny

Purpose: To help students understand the role of DNA, mRNA, tRNA, and amino acids in the process of protein synthesis. This activity can also be used to introduce the concept of mutations. Introduction: Students will use the steps of transcription and translation to assemble a protein that forms a sentence. Members of groups will use the handout to work through each step of the process. Group sizes of 2 or 3 work best. Nucleus: A table (or the floor) in the middle of the room which holds the DNA code cards. There are 20 different double strands of DNA. The bold stand represents the template strand

and is the one that will be used during transcription. None of the DNA cards can leave the nucleus. Students will try to take them to their desks; emphasize why they must transcribe them in the nucleus. The first step is unzipping (un-Velcro) the double strand of DNA. They must copy the bold DNA template onto the top strand in the nucleus on their handout. This strand should be labeled “Template DNA”. The students must transcribe the RNA code from the template stand of DNA onto the bottom strand in the nucleus on their handout. This strand should be labeled “mRNA” and the process should be labeled “Transcription.” This entire process should be done while in the area of the nucleus, because DNA cannot leave the nucleus. Tell them to record the number that is on the DNA card—it makes checking for accuracy easier later.

Ribosome: The student desks or tables are the ribosomes, this is where they will decode the mRNA

codons to know which tRNA they need to find the correct amino acids (words). The mRNA molecule should be copied onto the ribosome at the bottom of the handout. The dotted arrow represents the mRNA molecule leaving the nucleus and combining with a ribosome. Using the mRNA, they determine the correct anticodon for each on the tRNA’s above the strand.

tRNA: After they have identified the tRNA anticodons, anticodon cards are distributed around the

perimeter of the room. Each anticodon card has a word on the back. When assembled in the correct order the sentence will read: “Start—sentence (some silly)—Stop.” If the anticodon cards are clustered with all those beginning with the same letter in the same part of the room, students can find the cards quicker.

Report Your Protein: Student groups will read their sentence to the teacher. (It is easiest for you to

check if they tell you the number of the DNA card.) If it is not correct, they have to go back and begin again to determine when their mutation occurred.

WATCH OUT FOR MUTATIONS!!! If students incorrectly transcribe the DNA or mRNA, then a mutation

will occur and the sentence will not make sense or not be complete. Materials: 20 DNA template cards 64 Anticodon cards Students need diagram worksheet and pencil Teacher Preparation:

• Print the DNA strands on cardstock. Cut the double strand into two pieces. Cut close to the template DNA and leave room above the complementary strand of DNA as shown by the dotted line on DNA strand 1.

• Once you have laminated the cards, place pieces of Velcro on the extra space on the complementary strand. Position the other side of the Velcro on the template strand so that the nitrogen bases of the two strands lay right next to each other.

• Make tRNA cards with words on back. Make sure the right words on are the back of each anticodon card. They are made to be run front and back.

• Prepare copies on the handout.


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20 Sentences: 1. Who let the dogs out? 11. Education is the door to the future. 2. Designer jeans genes are made from DNA. 12. Who made up the code? 3. Are we having fun yet? 13. Sad movies make me cry. 4. Rock music is the best. 14. We are all in this together! 5. Chocolate chip cookies are the best! 15. We must be informed every day. 6. Biology is the best subject. 16. Rock and roll music is the best! 7. Drink water every day. 17. Biology is all around me. 8. I love rock and roll music. 18. Read a little every day. 9. Mutations make new traits. 19. DNA is the code of life. 10. Biology is so much fun. 20. DNA must be read for life. Anticodons and the words to write on the back of each one: AUC = STOP CCG = IS CGC = WATER UAC = START CCU = SUBJECT CGG = EVERY AAA = WHO CGA = DRINK CGU = DAY AAC = FROM AAG = MUTATIONS AAU = SAD ACG = HAVING ACC = CHIP ACU = CRY ACA = DESIGNER AGA = THE AGG = ARE AGU = BEATLES AGC = BEST AUA = ROCK UAG = OUT AUU = UP CAA = YET CAC = JEANS GENES CAG = MAKE CAU = TRAITS CCA = CHOCOLATE CCC = BIOLOGY CUA = I CUC = LOVE CUG = ROLL CUU = MUSIC GAA = ALL GAC = MADE GAG = DOGS GAU = AND GCA = SO GCC = MUCH GCG = FUN GCU = EDUCATION GGA = DOOR GGC = TO GGG = FUTURE GGU = COOKIES GUA = A GUC = NEW GUG = MOVIES GUU = LET UAA = WE AUG = IN UAU = THIS UCA = TOGETHER UCC = MUST UCG = BE UCU = INFORMED UGA = AROUND UGC = ME UGG = READ UGU = LITTLE UUA = DNA UUC = CODE UUG = FOR UUU = LIFE


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DNA template cards:

1. TAC AAA GTT AGA GAG TAG ATC ATG TTT CAA TCT CTC ATC TAG

2. TAC ACA CAC AGG GAC AAC TTA ATC ATG TGT GTG TCC CTG TTG AAT TAG

3. TAC AGG TAA ACG GCG CAA ATC ATG TCC ATT TGC CGC GTT TAG

4. TAC ATA CTT CCG AGA AGC ATC ATG TAT GAA GGC TCA TCG TAG

5. TAC CCA ACC GGT AGG AGA AGC ATC ATG GGT TGG CCA TCC TCT TCG TAG

6. TAC CCC CCG AGA AGC CCT ATC ATG GGG GGC TCT TCG GGA TAG

7. TAC CGA CGC CGG CGT ATC ATG GCA GCG GCC GCA TAG

8. TAC CTA CTC ATA GAT CTG CTT ATC ATG GAT GAG TAT CTA GAC GAA TAG

9. TAC AAG CAG GTC CAT ATC ATG TTC GTC CAG GTA TAG

10. TAC CCC CCG GCA GCC GCG ATC ATG GGG GGC CGT CGG CGC TAG

11. TAC GCT CCG AGA GGA GGC AGA GGG ATC ATG CGA GGC TCT CCT CCG TCT CCC TAG

12. TAC AAA GAC ATT AGA TTC ATC ATG TTT CTG TAA TCT AAG TAG

13. TAC AAT GTG CAG TGC ACT ATC ATG TTA CAC GTC ACG TGA TAG

14. TAC TAA AGG GAA ATG TAT TCA ATC ATG ATT TCC CTT TAC ATA AGT TAG

15. TAC TAA TCC TCG TCT CGG CGT ATC ATG ATT AGG AGC AGA GCC GCA TAG

16. TAC ATA GAT CTG CTT CCG AGA AGC ATC ATG TAT CTA GAC GAA GGC TCT TCG TAG

17. TAC CCC CCG GAA TGA TGC ATC ATG GGG GGC CTT ACT ACG TAG

18. TAC TGG GTA TGT CGG CGT ATC ATG ACC CAT ACA GCC GCA TAG

19. TAC TTA CCG AGA TTC TTG TTT ATC ATG AAT GGC TCT AAG AAC AAA TAG

20. TAC TTA TCC TCG TGG TTG TTT ATC ATG AAT AGG AGC ACC AAC AAA TAG


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Assessment: • Determine if students produce the right sentence for their sequence of DNA. If they do, students

have correctly transcribed the DNA into mRNA and translated the mRNA using tRNA. • Use the protein synthesis sequencing strips to assess students after the activity. Distribute a set

of strips to each student and allow them to put them in the correct order. The correct sequence is:

1. RNA polymerase unzips the DNA. 2. RNA free nucleotides in the nucleus bond to the template strand of the DNA, forming mRNA. 3. mRNA leaves the nucleus and goes into the cytoplasm. 4. One mRNA codon enters the ribosome. 5. A tRNA picks up an amino acid. 6. The tRNA brings the amino acid to the ribosome, matching the anticodon to codon. 7. The tRNA drops off the amino acid and tRNA and mRNA leave the ribosome. 8. Amino acids stack up (attached by a peptide bond) until a stop codon is reached. 9. A polypeptide is formed. 10. The polypeptide folds. 11. The polypeptide combines with other polypeptides to make hemoglobin. 12. The hemoglobin is faulty because of an incorrect amino acid. Results in sickle cell anemia.

AUC

UAC

AAA

AAC

ACG

ACA

AGU

UAG

FROM

WHO

START

STOP

OUT

BEATLES

DESIGNER

HAVING

CAC

CCA

CUC

GAA

GAU

GCG

GGC

GUA

ALL

LOVE

CHOCOLATE

JEANS GENES

A

TO

FUN

AND

GUU

UAU

UCG

UGC

UUA

UUU

CCG

CCU

ME

BE

THIS

LET

SUBJECT

IS

LIFE

DNA

CGA

AAG

ACC

AGA

AGC

AUU

CAG

CCC

THE

CHIP

MUTATIONS

DRINK

BIOLOGY

MAKE

UP

BEST

CUG

GAC

GCA

GCU

GGG

GUC

UAA

UCA

EDUCATION

SO

MADE

ROLL

TOGETHER

WE

NEW

FUTURE

UCU

UGG

UUC

CGC

CGG

CGU

AAU

ACU

WATER

CODE

READ

INFORMED

CRY

SAD

DAY

EVERY

AGG

AUA

CAA

CAU

CUA

CUU

GAG

GCC

TRAITS

YET

ROCK

ARE

MUCH

DOGS

MUSIC I

GGA

GGU

GUG

AUG

UCC

UGA

UGU

UUG

IN

MOVIES

COOKIES

DOOR

FOR

LITTLE

AROUND

MUST

Template

mRNA

Instructions for Protein Synthesis Game The following things should be done on the diagram on the front of this sheet.

1. The nitrogen bases (A,G,C,T,U) should be written in the correct sequence on each of the strands shown.

2. Fill in the boxes with the correct labels. 3. The words (anmino acids) should be written on the lines above each tRNA. 4. Circle one codon in red. 5. Circle one anticodon in orange. 6. Circle one tRNA in blue. 7. Label the ribosome or rRNA in green. 8. Tell what the dotted line represents.

1. TAC AAA GTT AGA GAG TAG ATC

ATG TTT CAA TCT CTC ATC TAG

2. TAC ACA CAC AGG GAC AAC TTA ATC

ATG TGT GTG TCC CTG TTG AAT TAG

3. TAC AGG TAA ACG GCG CAA ATC

ATG TCC ATT TGC CGC GTT TAG

4. TAC ATA CTT CCG AGA AGC ATC

ATG TAT GAA GGC TCT TCG TAG

5. TAC CCA ACC GGT AGG AGA AGC ATC

ATG GGT TGG CCA TCC TCT TCG TAG

6. TAC CCC CCG AGA AGC CCT ATC

ATG GGG GGC TCT TCG GGA TAG

7. TAC CGA CGC CGG CGT ATC

ATG GCT GCG GCC GCA TAG

8. TAC CTA CTC ATA GAT CTG CTT ATC

ATG GAT GAGTAT CTA GAC GAA TAG

9. TAC AAG CAG GTC CAT ATC

ATG TTC GTC CAG GTA TAG

10. TAC CCC CCG GCA GCC GCG ATC

ATG GGG GGC CGT CGG CGC TAG

11. TAC GCT CCG AGA GGA GGC AGA GGG ATC

ATG CGA GGC TCT CCT CCG TCT CCC TAG

12. TAC AAA GAC ATT AGA TTC ATC

ATG TTT CTG TAA TCT AAG TAG

13. TAC AAT GTG CAG TGC ACT ATC

ATG TTA CAC GTC ACG TGA TAG

14. TAC TAA AGG GAA ATG TAT TCA ATC

ATG ATT TCC CTT TAC ATA AGT TAG

15. TAC TAA TCC TCG TCT CGG CGT ATC

ATG ATT AGGAGC AGA GCC GCA TAG

16. TAC ATA GAT CTG CTT CCG AGA AGC ATC

ATG TAT CTA GAC GAA GGCTCT TCG TAG

17. TAC CCC CCG GAA TGA TGC ATC

ATG GGG GGC CTT ACT ACG TAG

18. TAC TGG GTA TGT CGG CGT ATC

ATG ACC CAT ACA GCC GCA TAG

19. TAC TTA CCG AGA TTC TTG TTT ATC

ATG AAT GGC TCT AAG AAC AAATAG

20. TAC TTA TCC TCG TGG TTG TTT ATC

ATG AAT AGGAGC ACC AAC AAA TAG

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