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