Guanine Bonds with Cytosine and Thymine Bonds with Adenine

Guanine Bonds with Cytosine and Thymine Bonds with Adenine

Name ______Date ______

DNA Model Lab

Purpose: To construct an original DNA molecule and to see how it will translate into a unique protein.

Procedure:

  1. To the figure on the next page, color all the Deoxyribose molecules redand the Phosphate group molecules purple.
  2. Label the Deoxyribose molecules with an “S”and the Phosphate group molecules with a “P”.
  3. Now start creating your own original gene by filling in the Nitrogenous bases, starting with T-A-C on the top of the left strand, remembering the base pairing rule of:

Guanine bonds with Cytosine and Thymine bonds with Adenine

  1. Color the Guanine molecules Green and label them with a G
  2. Color the Cytosine molecules Blue and label them with a C
  3. Color the Adenine molecules Pink and label them with an A
  4. Color the Thymine molecules Yellow and label them with aT
  1. End the strand on the left with either; A-T-T, A-T-C, or A-C-T.

The more creative you are, the more unique your gene and therefore the protein formed will be.

  1. Color all the hydrogen bondsblack and all the covalent bondsorange.

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Now that you have constructed your DNA strand, it is time to compare it to the other strands in the classroom.

  1. How does your DNA molecule differ from those of your classmates? Be specific in your explanation.
  1. How is your DNA molecule similar to those of your classmates? Be specific again.
  1. Where would you find your DNA molecules if it were in your cells?
  1. When your DNA molecule undergoes DNA replication, how many molecules of DNA would now be present?
  1. What would the new strands of DNA look like when compared to each other?
  1. Why is it necessary for the process of DNA replication to be so precise?
  1. Why are the bonds between the nitrogenous bases hydrogen bonds while the bonds holding everything else are covalent bonds? Hint: Remember the strength of the bonds.

8. Now you will use your own molecule of DNA to create the protein that the gene codes for. Starting with the

left strand of your DNA molecule, leaving off the sugars and phosphates, copy down your genetic code.

DNA Strand

mRNALeft strand - Right strand Amino Acids

______- ______

______- ______

______- ______

______- ______

______- ______

______- ______

______- ______

______- ______

______- ______

______- ______

______- ______

______- ______

______- ______

______- ______

______- ______

9. Now to the left of it, write how mRNA would transcribe your DNA molecule, again, using the left strand.

10. Using the Genetic Code, translate the left strand of your DNA from the mRNA. If you come to a STOP

codon, keep going. Pretend it didn’t happen and just write STOP in the Amino Acid location.

11. In which organelle of all cells will the process of Protein Synthesis occur?

12. Which nucleic acid will be responsible for bringing the proper amino acids to the mRNA to form the

protein?

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