Carswell 8Th Grade Science

DNA Webquest

Carswell 8th Grade Science

Today you will be working in the media center to independently complete a webquest focusing on DNA, DNA replication, Transcription, and Translation. All of your work today will come from one website.

Go to the website: http://www.johnkyrk.com/DNAanatomy.html

Task 1 – What is DNA?

On this page, begin looking at the structure of DNA. You can use the “next” button on the bottom left side of the page to move through the pages. The “next then becomes arrows to follow.

1. What is the shape of a DNA molecule?

2. What are the 4 nitrogenous bases present in DNA?

3. Which 2 are Purines? Which 2 are Pyrimidines?

4. How do the bases pair up in across the DNA molecule?

5. How many pairs of chromosomes do humans have?

6. How many base pairs are their in human DNA?

7. What is the name of the type of bond holding two strands of DNA together in a Double strand?

Task 2- What is DNA replication and how does it work?

At the bottom left side of the page, find the link, “DNA Replication” and click on it.

At the top you see the question, ”When a cell divides, where does the extra DNA come from?” You will also see a diagram of DNA and an arrow button that says, “click to continue.”

1. Where does the extra DNA come from before cell division?

2. What are genetic mutations?

3. What does the enzyme Helicase do? RNA Primase? DNA Polymerase?

4. What are Ozaki fragments?

5. Continue to click the arrow to move forward watching what happens. When the process is complete, what is the result?

Task 3 – What is DNA Transcription and how does it work?

At the bottom left side of the page, find the link “DNA Transcription” and click on it. On this page you will find out about RNA and how RNA is transcribed from DNA. Click on the button that says “About RNA” to gather information about RNA.

1. What are the differences between DNA and RNA?

2. What does RNA Polymerase do?

3. What are the 3 types of RNA?

4. What does the word “ephemeral” mean?

5. What is the result at the end of this process?

Task 4 - What is Translation of RNA and how does it work?

At the bottom left side of the page, find the link “RNA Translation” and click on it. Whenever you see “Ribosomal RNA” this is the same thing as saying, ribosome – and you know what this does. On this page, you will find out how the ribosome makes a protein.

Read through the first page and then click the arrow to move ahead to the next page.

1. How many RNA bases are in a “Codon”

2. A “peptide chain” is a chain of amino acids. What will this end up being?

3. Watch the animation. You should see a chain of amino acids being formed until the UAA codon is reached. This is called a “stop” codon. What happened when that codon was reached?

4. What is the result at the end of this process?

Summary Questions:

1.  DNA codes for the production of ______which codes for the production of ______.

2.  How would the accidental changing of one DNA base change the outcome of the whole process?