Standard 4, Objective 3 Performance Test
Title: Simulating Protein Synthesis
Description: Students will individually transcribe and translate a fictitious protein that will
represent a trait. The traits will be combined to draw an organism.
Materials: paper, pencil, colored pencils or crayons, student sheet with data table,
Transcription chart and Protein chart (these are all included below)
Procedure:
1. Hand out and explain that the data table contains the information that would be found
in DNA on chromosomes in the nucleus. Students must first transcribe and translate the
information on this data table. They must use the “Transcription” chart to determine amino
acid number and the “Protein” chart to find the actual characteristics.
2. Students will next combine the traits with the other students (if they are working in
groups) and draw the organism. They may work individually and do the same thing.
3. Students can compare drawings or display them.
Student Sheet
Name___________________
Title: Translating DNA
Purpose: To translate DNA code into an imaginary creature.
Materials: “Transcription” chart and “Protein” chart, paper, colored pencils or markers.
Procedure:
1. Start by filling in the data chart, first by transcribing DNA to mRNA and then translating
it to tRNA. Remember, in RNA, thymine is replaced by uracil.
2. Use the tRNA triplets to find the amino acid number from the “Transcription” chart.
3. Use the “Protein” chart to find the actual characteristic that would form from the DNA
strand you started with.
4. After you have all 8 traits identified, draw your organism. Compare it to others in the
class and answer the questions.
Data:
Gene 1
DNA
mRNA
tRNA
Amino Acids
Trait
Gene 2
DNA
AGC
mRNA
tRNA
Amino Acids
Trait
Gene 3
DNA
mRNA
tRNA
Amino Acids
Trait
ACT
CGC
TTT
GGG CCC TAC
TAC
AAC
Gene 4
DNA
mRNA
tRNA
Amino Acids
Trait
Gene 5
DNA
mRNA
tRNA
Amino Acids
Trait
Gene 6
DNA
mRNA
tRNA
Amino Acids
Trait
Gene 7
DNA
mRNA
tRNA
Amino Acids
Trait
Gene 8
DNA
mRNA
tRNA
Amino Acids
Trait
GGA CGC AAA CCC
ATC ATC CTA
GGA CGC CGA
TTT
AGG AAA TTT
ACC GGT TAT
TAT
Questions:
1.
What is the specific site of transcription in the cell? What is the specific site of
translation in the cell?
2.
Do all of the organisms drawn by the students in this activity look identical to each
other? If so, why? If different, why?
Transcription
tRNA Triplet
ACU
GGG
CCC
ACC
GGU
UAU
UUU
AGG
AAA
AGC
CGC
UAC
AUC
CUA
AAC
GGA
GUG
GGC
GAG
CGA
Amino Acid Number
11
1
12
2
3
4
5
13
8
7
14
9
10
15
19
20
16
17
18
6
Protein
Amino Acid Sequence
Trait
2-8-4-4
hairy
4-6-2-2
feathers
5-19
female
6-19
male
20-14-8-12
corpulent
20-15-7-11
slender
5-13-8-5
four legs
5-13-6-6
flippers
20-14-6
freckles
7-14-9
3 horns
7-14-8
hornless
11-1-12-9
blue skin
1-11-9-12
red to pink skin
10-10-15
large proboscis
15-10-10
small proboscis