Partners: ______

& ______

DNA mRNA tRNA/Amino Acid

DNA:

★ Coded by adenine - thymine and cytosine - guanine

★ Is the recipe

mRNA:

★ Coded by adenine - uracil and cytosine - guanine

★ Complimentary to DNA

★ Carries the recipe to the ribosome

tRNA:

★ Coded by adenine - uracil and cytosine - guanine

★ Complimentary to mRNA

★ Puts the correct amino acid (word) in place in the growing protein (sentence)

Goal: Complete 5 different DNA sequences one at a time.

Challenge: Complete 6 different DNA sequences one at a time.

At the DNA in the nucleus (side table):

  1. Record the number of the DNA sequence your group will be working with.
  2. Write down the mRNA codon sequence that compliments the DNA sequence. Write the sequences in groups of three (codons). For example, if the DNA reads “ATG” you would write down “UAC”.

DO NOT WRITE DOWN THE DNA SEQUENCE!!!

At theendlab tables:

  1. Write down the sequences in the tRNA that compliment the mRNA. Write the sequences in groups of three. For example, if the mRNA reads “AGC” you would write down “UCG”.

At the Ribosomes (wall):

  1. Find the card (tRNA) with the anti-codon sequence.
  2. Flip the card over to find the amino acid (word) that the tRNA codes for and record that word in

your table.

  1. Flip the card back over before looking for the next sequence.

Example:

DNA # 12: ATG TAA ACC ACT ACA TAG

DNA Strand Number / mRNA Codon Sequence / tRNA Anticodon Sequence / Protein (Sentence)
12 / UAC AUU UGG UGA UCU AUC / AUG UAA ACC ACU AGA UAG / We have dog breath.

DATA:

DNA # / mRNA Codon Sequences / tRNA Anti-codon Sequences / Protein (Sentence)

Analysis:

  1. Why did you have to stay in the "nucleus" to write down the mRNA?
  1. Which part of this activity represents transcription?
  1. Which part of this activity represents translation?

4. What happens in the ribosomes during protein synthesis?

5. What does the final sentence represent in terms of protein synthesis?

6. What does each word represent in terms of protein synthesis?

7. All DNA sequences started with ATG and ended with TAG? Why?

8. List four ways proteins are used in the body.