Subject/Course Title: Biology-H
Unit Title/Skill Set: 5. DNA, RNA and Protein Synthesis--10 Days
Overview: This unit examines the role of nucleic acids and cellular organelles in
the production of proteins and the resultant expression of phenotype.
Unit Essential Question(s): How do organisms use DNA and RNA to make
proteins? What factors affect gene expression?
Unit Competencies—What students need to be able to do (skills) as Do Now’s.
2. Explain the structural relationships between DNA, genes, and chromosomes.
4. Describe how DNA replication results in the transmission and/or conservation of the genetic
information.
8. Describe the role of the nucleus, ribosomes, ER, and Golgi apparatus in the production and processing
of proteins.
9. Describe how genetic mutations alter DNA sequence and may or may not affect phenotype.
10. Explain the unified process of protein synthesis.
Unit Concepts—What students need to know as Guided Reading
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

Structure of DNA
o Components of a nucleotide
o Base-pair rule (Chargaff’s Rule)
Structure of eukaryotic chromosomes
Semi-conservative/DNA replication process
Similarities and differences between DNA and RNA
Types of RNA
Transcription uses DNA to make RNA
Translation uses RNA to make a protein
Role of ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus in assembling, transporting, packaging
and modifying different proteins
Phenotype as a function of gene expression (DNA to protein to phenotype)
Different types of gene mutations
Possible effect of mutation (change in the DNA sequence) on phenotype
Environmental influences on phenotype
NUCLEIC ACIDS: DNA, RNA, and PROTEIN SYNTHESIS SYLLABUS—H
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Every reading assignment is expected to be completed BEFORE you come to class. Confused about the
reading? Prepare questions to ask in class AS YOU READ.
Be a Scout and Be Prepared…Reading quizzes may be given at ANY time.
Homework is due ON THE DUE DATE (Sectionals—Turn in on the due date…Field trips and
illnesses—turn in on your first day back.).
Do Now’s are to be completed in class and turned in THAT BLOCK. (Absent??—Turn in first day
back. Questions on the reading that goes with the Do Now??—Turn in written question specifying
what you don’t understand. Be specific. Don’t say, “I don’t get it”.)
Vocabulary understanding is necessary. Attend to the words at the beginning of each chapter, or words
that you encounter that are new to you.
6. **In order for you to participate in structured activities and labs, you must have
your Guided Reading up-to-date as well as your vocabulary.
7.
Labs are to be read beforehand.
DAY
LESSON
Structural relationship between DNA,
1
genes, and chromosomes
Nucleotide cha-cha
Vocabulary/Reading
*Slides throughout unit
Vocabulary/Reading
2
Pre-Activity: Chutes and Ladders—
background questions
Activity: Chutes and Ladders
DNA replication
3
Vocabulary/Reading
4
5
6
7
8
9
Vocabulary/Reading
Pre-Activity: Replication Rock, Paper,
Scissors—background questions
Activity: Rock, Paper, Scissors
DNA transcription
Reading the AA Table
Vocabulary/Reading
Vocabulary/Reading
Pre-Activity: Transcription
Jeopardy—background questions
Activity: Transcription Jeopardy
DNA translation to proteins
W’s of translation and proteins, ER,
Golgi
Vocabulary/Reading
Worksheet-Genetic Code
Vocabulary/Reading
Pre-Activity: Translation Penny
Toss—background questions
Activity: Translation Penny Toss
Lab-The Stellar Thread
Vocabulary/Reading
HOMEWORK
Read: 10.1
Discovery of
DNA
Read: 10.2 DNA
Structure
Read: 10.3 DNA
Replication
/ DUE
Read: 10.4
Protein Synthesis
p. 204-7
Transcription
Read: 10.4
Translation p.
208-10
Quiz #1, DNA/RNA/
Replication
Read: Mutations
p. 239-240
DUE: Bgram
DUE: Reading 1,
DNA/RNA History/
Replication
DUE: Reading #2,
Genetic mutations and phenotypic
expression
Random Acts of Mutation activity
Lab—Mutations
Exploring: Animation websites
Protein Synthesis
Unified theory of protein synthesisDUE: Reading #3,
Putting it all together
Mutations
USA Test Prep
Pre-lab: Protein Synthesis Model—
Quiz #2, Protein
background questions
Synthesis
Lab—Protein Synthesis Model-CHNOPS
11
Test sometime, somewhere, etc.
DUE:
Probably Day 3 of next unit.
CHNOPS Lab
Animation resources: You may also locate these on the server in my distribution box
under Nucleic Acids
10
http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_
place/labbench/index.html
http://www.wwnorton.com/college/biology/discover
bio4/_core/ch/08/animations.aspx
http://www.bozemanscience.com/
http://www.dnai.org/
Vocabulary
adenine
amino acids
anticodon
Chargaff’s Rule
chromosomes
codon
complimentary strand
cytosine
deletion
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
deoxyribose
DNA replication
double helix
endoplasmic reticulum
enzymes
frameshift mutation
gene mutation
genes
Golgi apparatus
guanine
hydrogen bond
insertion
missense
nonsense
nucleotide
nucleus
parent strand
phenotype
phosphate group
point mutation
polypeptides
proteins
ribonucleic acid (RNA)
ribosomes
semi-conservative model
silent
thymine
transcription
translation
triplet
uracil
DNA Chutes and Ladders Questions
Name ______________________
1. Name three scientists responsible for discovering the structure of DNA.
2. What are the three components of a nucleotide?
3. What two components of a nucleotide never change?
4. What component of a nucleotide changes?
5. What are the four DNA bases and how do they pair?
6. Wilkins and Franklin are known for…
7. Watson and Crick are known for…
8. Explain the significance of the physical structure of each DNA base.
9. How can every living thing share the same four bases in their DNA and still have
so much variety?
10. What is the result of a single error in DNA bases?
REPLICATION ROCK/PAPER/SCISSORS QUESTIONS
Name _____________________
1. What is the process called whereby a new copy of DNA is made?
2. What is the reason that DNA makes a copy of itself?
3. The ending, ‘ase’ refers to any molecule (usually an enzyme) that breaks bonds.
What do you think DNA helicase does?
4. The resulting DNA strand from replication is an exact ___ of the original strand.
5. An important function of DNA polymerase is to check the new strand for ____.
6. What kind of bonds are formed between the bases?
7. A gene is a series of bases that code for a single ______?
8. What are replication forks?
9. Explain what a complementary base pair is. Give an example.
10. A virus that invades bacteria and makes the bacteria produce more viruses are
called…
TRANSCRIPTION JEOPARDY GAME QUESTIONS
NAME _______________________
1. The process of transcription copies the DNA code onto…
2. Three differences between DNA and mRNA are…
3. Thymine in DNA is replaced by ___ in mRNA.
4. DNA is found ONLY in the nucleus, but mRNA is made in the nucleus and then
goes to the…
5. In the first step of transcription, DNA unwinds, the Hydrogen bonds between
bases break and the DNA separates. Then…
6. What are the base pairing in mRNA?
7. RNA polymerase does what in transcription?
8. Explain how a template works in transcription.
9. How are prokaryotes different from eukaryotes during transcription?
10. What is the function of mRNA?
Penny Toss Translation
Name_________________
1. A codon is to mRNA as a ______ is to tRNA.
2. Ribosomes function as an ________________________ for proteins.
3. The role of the ER is to _________________________________.
4. Golgi apparatus functions in _________________, __________________,
_____________________, and ________________different proteins.
5. The ‘essential’ building blocks of proteins are ___________________, and
come from the _____________that you eat.
6. ______________help to form peptide bonds between adjacent amino acids.
7. After the long chain of aa’s are formed, the chain ____________________ and
____________________which will determine its function.
8. The genetic code for making proteins is described as being nearly ___________
as all living things use the same series of ___________ in groups of three known
as a ____________.
9. In order for a ribosome to begin making a protein, ___________must be present
in the codon.
10. In order for a ribosome to stop making a protein, a ‘stop’ codon is needed. What
disease may occur if there is a missing stop?
CHNOPS Lab
Constructing a Model of Protein Synthesis
PRE-LAB DISCUSSION
Genes are the units that determine inherited characteristics, such as hair color and
blood type. Genes are lengths of DNA molecules that determine the structure of
polypeptides (the building blocks of proteins) that our cells make. The sequence of
nucleotides in DNA determines the sequence of amino acids in polypeptides, and thus the
structure of proteins.
In a process called transcription, which takes place in the nucleus of the cell,
messenger RNA (mRNA) reads and copies the DNA’s nucleotide sequences in the form
of a complementary RNA molecule. Then the mRNA carries this information in the form
of a code to the ribosomes, where protein synthesis takes place. The code, in DNA or
mRNA, specifies the order in which the amino acids are joined together to form a
polypeptide. The code words in mRNA, however, are not directly recognized by the
corresponding amino acids. Another type of RNA called transfer RNA (tRNA) is needed
to bring the mRNA and amino acids together. As the code carried by mRNA is “read” on
a ribosome, the proper tRNAs arrive in turn and give up the amino acids they carry to the
growing polypeptide chain. The process by which the information from DNA is
transferred into the language of proteins is known as translation.
In this investigation, you will simulate the mechanism of protein synthesis and
thereby determine the traits inherited by fictitious organisms called CHNOPS. CHNOPS,
whose cells contain only one chromosome, are members of the kingdom Animalia. A
CHNOPS chromosome is made up of eight genes (A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H), each of
which is responsible for a certain trait.
PROCEDURE
1. To determine the trait for Gene A of your CHNOPS, first you must transcribe the
DNA into mRNA.
2. Then, you must write the nucleotides of tRNA that are complementary to mRNA.
3. Use the chart in Figure 1 to find the corresponding amino acid sequence.
Remember to use the mRNA sequence and not the tRNA sequence in this chart!
4. Using figure 2, find the trait that matches the amino acid sequence. To save
space, you may abbreviate each amino acid. Record this information in the
appropriate place.
5. Repeat steps 1 through 4 for the remaining genes (B through F).
6. Create two additional traits for your CHNOPS and give their initial DNA
sequence, mRNA codon, tRNA anticodon, and the amino acid sequence. Start
with a trait listed in Figure 2 and work backwards to fill in the information for
Genes G and H.
7. Using all the inherited traits, sketch your CHNOPS in the space provided.
Figure 1
First
Base
U
C
A
G
U
Phenylalanine
Phenylalanine
Leucine
Leucine
Leucine
Leucine
Leucine
Leucine
Isoleucine
Isoleucine
Isoleucine
Methionine
(start)
Valine
Valine
Valine
Valine
Second Base
C
A
Serine
Tyrosine
Serine
Tyrosine
Serine
Stop
Serine
Stop
Proline
Histidine
Proline
Histidine
Proline
Glutamine
Proline
Glutamine
Threonine
Asparagine
Threonine
Asparagine
Threonine
Lysine
Threonine
Lysine
Alanine
Alanine
Alanine
Alanine
Aspartate
Aspartate
Glutamate
Glutamate
G
Cysteine
Cysteine
Stop
Tryptophan
Arginine
Arginine
Arginine
Arginine
Serine
Serine
Arginine
Arginine
Glycine
Glycine
Glycine
Glycine
Figure 2
Amino Acid Sequence
Tyrosine – Alanine – Tyrosine
Lysine – Leucine
Proline – Alanine – Alanine
Histidine – Arginine
Tryptophan – Proline – Isoleucine
Threonine – Serine – Serine
Tyrosine – Glutamate - Aspartate
Lysine – Arginine – Serine – Leucine
Valine – Isoleucine
Serine – Alanine
Trait
Hairless
Hairy
Plump
Skinny
Four-legged
Two-legged
Long nose
Short nose
No freckles
Freckles
Proline – Serine – Phenylalanine - Glycine
Proline – Serine – Glycine
Methionine – Tryptophan – Stop
Cysteine – Methionine – Alanine
Methionine – Phenylalanine – Valine
Valine – Glycine – Cysteine
Asparagine – Threonine – Methionine
Cysteine – Aspartate - Stop
Blue skin
Orange skin
Short legs
Long legs
Long tail
Short tail
Spots
Stripes
Third
Base
U
C
A
G
U
C
A
G
U
C
A
G
U
C
A
G
Gene A
ACC GGT
DNA
T
AT
mRNA
_____________________
tRNA
_____________________
Amino Acid
Sequence
___________________
Trait
______________________
Gene D
GGA CGC
Gene B
Gene C
DNA A G C C G A
mRNA
_____________________
tRNA
_____________________
Amino Acid
Sequence
___________________
Trait
______________________
DNA
TTT AAC
mRNA
_____________________
tRNA
_____________________
Amino Acid
Sequence
___________________
Trait
______________________
Gene E
GGG AGG AAA
DNA
C
GA
mRNA
_____________________
tRNA
_____________________
Amino Acid
Sequence
___________________
Trait
______________________
DNA
CCC
mRNA
_____________________
tRNA
_____________________
Amino Acid
Sequence
___________________
Trait
______________________
Gene G
Gene H
DNA
mRNA
_____________________
tRNA
_____________________
Amino Acid
Sequence
___________________
Trait
______________________
DNA
mRNA
_____________________
tRNA
_____________________
Amino Acid
Sequence
___________________
Trait
______________________
Gene F
ATG CTC
DNA
C
TA
mRNA
_____________________
tRNA
_____________________
Amino Acid
Sequence
___________________
Trait
______________________
** Draw your CHNOPS
on a blank sheet of
paper.
Use color.
Label each gene with its
letter.
______Score
CHNOPS DQ’s
Name_____________________ Date_______Blk__
ANALYZE AND CONCLUDE
1. Compare and contrast translation and transcription.
Transcription
Both
Translation
2. What is the specific site for transcription in the cell?
_____________________________
3. What is the specific site for translation in the cell?
_______________________________
4. How many tRNA nucleotides form an anticodon that will attach to the mRNA
codon? ____________
5. Suppose you knew the makeup of specific proteins in a cell. How could you
determine the particular DNA code that coded for them? (Think about it, you did
this in this lab.)
CHNOPS DQ’s. Cont.
6. How could one change in a DNA nucleotide alter the formation of the translated
protein? For example, if we changed or removed the nucleotide in bold from the
following DNA strand, how would that affect the formation of the protein?
Explain (step by step).
DNA :
TACTCAATTCACGCT
NAME __________________________________
Mutations Worksheet
(staff.fcps.net/einman/biology/MutationsWS.doc)
Deletion, Insertion & Substitution
There are several types of mutation:
 DELETION (a base is lost/deleted)
 INSERTION (an extra base is added/inserted)
--- Deletion & insertion may cause what’s called a FRAMESHIFT mutation,
meaning the reading “frame"
changes, thus changing the amino acid sequence
from this point forward
 SUBSTITUTION (one base is substituted for another)
--- If a substitution changes the amino acid, it’s called a MISSENSE
mutation
--- If a substitution does not change the amino acid, it’s called a SILENT
mutation
--- If a substitution changes the amino acid to a “stop,” it’s called a
NONSENSE mutation
Complete the boxes below. Classify each as Deletion, Insertion or Substitution
AND as either
frameshift, missense, silent or nonsense (Hint: Deletion & Insertion will always be
frameshift).
Original DNA Sequence:
T A C A C C T T G G C G A C G A C T…
mRNA Sequence:
Amino Acid Sequence:
Mutated DNA Sequence #1
T A C A T C T T G G C G A C G A C T…
What’s the mRNA sequence?
he chan
What will be the amino acid sequence?
Will there likely be effects?
What type of mutation is this? ________________________________
Mutated DNA Sequence #2
T A C G A C C T T G G C G A C G A C T…
What’s the mRNA sequence?
What will be the amino acid sequence?
Will there likely be effects?
What type of mutation is this? ________________________________
chan
Mutated DNA Sequence #3
T A C A C C T T A G C G A C G A C T…
What’s the mRNA sequence?
chan
What will be the amino acid sequence?
Will there likely be effects?
What type of mutation is this? ________________________________
Mutated DNA Sequence #4
T A C A C C T T G G C G A C T A C T…
What’s the mRNA sequence?
chan
What will be the amino acid sequence?
Will there likely be effects?
What type of mutation is this? _________________________________
Original DNA Sequence:
T A C A C C T T G G C G A C G A C T…
mRNA Sequence:
Amino Acid Sequence:
Mutated DNA Sequence #5
T A C A C C T T G G G A C G A C T…
What’s the mRNA sequence?
What will be the amino acid sequence?
Will there likely be effects?
What type of mutation is this? _________________________________
1. Which type of mutation is responsible for new variations of a trait?
2. Which type of mutation does not result in an abnormal amino acid sequence?
3. Which type of mutation stops the translation of an mRNA molecule?
chan
Sickle Cell Anemia
Sickle cell anemia is the result of a type of mutation in the gene that codes for
part of the hemoglobin molecule. Recall that hemoglobin carries oxygen in your red
bloods cells. The mutation causes these red blood cells to become stiff & sickleshaped when they release their oxygen. The sickled cells tend to get stuck in blood
vessels, causing pain and increased risk of stroke, blindness, damage to the heart &
lungs, and other conditions.
--- Analyze the DNA strands below to determine what amino acid is changed AND
what type of mutation occurred
Normal hemoglobin DNA
C A C G T A G A C T G A G G A C T C…
Normal hemoglobin mRNA
Normal hemoglobin AA sequence
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sickle cell hemoglobin DNA
C A C G T A G A C T G A G G A C A C…
Sickle cell hemoglobin mRNA
Sickle cell hemoglobin AA sequence
4. What type of mutation is this? Please explain why.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DNA, RNA and Protein Synthesis Do Now Answers—H
________Score
Name____________________________
Day Write sentences that rephrase the question. Use punctuation.
2
4
8
9
10