Simulating Protein Synthesis Introduction
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Name: _______________________________________________ Date: ____________ Block: _____________ Simulating Protein Synthesis Introduction 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 mRNA molecule. Then the mRNA carries this information out of the nucleus, into the cytoplasm, to the ribosomes, where protein synthesis takes place. The code, originally from DNA, now carried by mRNA, specifies the order in which the amino acids are joined together to form a protein. The code in mRNA, however, is not directly recognized by the corresponding amino acids. Another type of RNA called transfer RNA (tRNA) is needed to read the mRNA and bring the corresponding amino acid to the ribosome. As the mRNA code is “read” on the 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 mRNA is transferred into the language of proteins is known as translation. In this activity, you will simulate the mechanism of protein synthesis and thereby determine the traits inherited by a fictitious organism called CHNOPS. CHNOPS, whose cells contain only one chromosome, are members of the kingdom Animalia. A CHNOPS chromosome is made up of six genes (A, B, C, D, E, and F), each of which is responsible for a certain trait. Procedures 1. To determine the trait for Gene A of your CHNOPS, fill in the information in the box labeled Gene A in the Data Table. Notice the sequence of nucleotides in DNA. On the line provided write the sequence of nucleotides of mRNA that are complementary to DNA. Then, on the line provided, write the sequence of nucleotides of tRNA that are complementary to mRNA. 2. In order to determine the sequence of amino acids, match each mRNA triplet with the correct amino acid. 3. Using Table 1, find the trait that matches the amino acid sequence. Record the trait in the appropriate place in the Data Table. 4. Once you have recorded the traits found in your CHNOPS, draw a picture of what he or she would look like in the space provided. Table 1: Amino Acid Sequence Amino Acid Sequence Tryptophan, Histidine, Isoleucine Tryptophan, Proline, Isoleucine Tryptophan, Glutamine, Threonine Alanine, Leucine, Proline Alanine Serine, Proline, Glycine Proline, Serine, Phenylalanine, Glycine Lysine, Phenylalanine Lysine, Leucine Histidine, Alanine, Alanine Histidine, Alanine, Valine Cysteine, Cysteine, Valine Cysteine, Cysteine, Leucine Trait Hairless Hairy Plump Skinny Long nose Short nose No freckles Freckles Blue Skin Orange Skin Male Female Data Table 1: CHNOPS Traits Gene A: Hair DNA ACC-GTA-TAT Gene B: Size DNA ACC-GTC-TGT Gene C: Nose Size DNA mRNA mRNA mRNA tRNA tRNA tRNA Amino Acid Amino Acid Amino Acid Sequence Sequence Sequence Trait Trait Trait Gene D: Freckles DNA TTT-AAG Gene E: Color DNA GTA-CGC-CGA Gene F: Gender DNA mRNA mRNA mRNA tRNA tRNA tRNA Amino Acid Amino Acid Amino Acid Sequence Sequence Sequence Trait Trait Trait Draw your Baby Below: CGA-AGG-GGT-CCC ACG-ACA-CAT Table 1: Amino Acid Sequence Amino Acid Sequence Tryptophan, Histidine, Isoleucine Tryptophan, Proline, Isoleucine Tryptophan, Glutamine, Threonine Alanine, Leucine, Proline Alanine Serine, Proline, Glycine Proline, Serine, Phenylalanine, Glycine Lysine, Phenylalanine Lysine, Leucine Histidine, Alanine, Alanine Histidine, Alanine, Valine Cysteine, Cysteine, Valine Cysteine, Cysteine, Leucine Trait Hairless Hairy Plump Skinny Long nose Short nose No freckles Freckles Blue Skin Orange Skin Male Female Data Table 2: CHNOPS Traits Gene A: Hair DNA ACC-GGG-TAT Gene B: Size DNA ACC-GTC-TGT Gene C: Nose Size DNA mRNA mRNA mRNA tRNA tRNA tRNA Amino Acid Amino Acid Amino Acid Sequence Sequence Sequence Trait Trait Trait Gene D: Freckles DNA TTC-AAC Gene E: Color DNA GTA-CGC-CAG Gene F: Gender DNA mRNA mRNA mRNA tRNA tRNA tRNA Amino Acid Amino Acid Amino Acid Sequence Sequence Sequence Trait Trait Trait Draw your Baby Below: GGC-AGG-AAA-CCT ACG-ACA-CAT Table 1: Amino Acid Sequence Amino Acid Sequence Tryptophan, Histidine, Isoleucine Tryptophan, Proline, Isoleucine Tryptophan, Glutamine, Threonine Alanine, Leucine, Proline Alanine Serine, Proline, Glycine Proline, Serine, Phenylalanine, Glycine Lysine, Phenylalanine Lysine, Leucine Histidine, Alanine, Alanine Histidine, Alanine, Valine Cysteine, Cysteine, Valine Cysteine, Cysteine, Leucine Trait Hairless Hairy Plump Skinny Long nose Short nose No freckles Freckles Blue Skin Orange Skin Male Female Data Table 3: CHNOPS Traits Gene A: Hair DNA ACC-GGG-TAT Gene B: Size DNA CGC-AAC-GGG Gene C: Nose Size DNA mRNA mRNA mRNA tRNA tRNA tRNA Amino Acid Amino Acid Amino Acid Sequence Sequence Sequence Trait Trait Trait Gene D: Freckles DNA TTC-AAC Gene E: Color DNA GTA-CGC-CGA Gene F: Gender DNA mRNA mRNA mRNA tRNA tRNA tRNA Amino Acid Amino Acid Amino Acid Sequence Sequence Sequence Trait Trait Trait Draw your Baby Below: CGA-AGG-GGT-CCC ACG-ACA-CAT Table 1: Amino Acid Sequence Amino Acid Sequence Tryptophan, Histidine, Isoleucine Tryptophan, Proline, Isoleucine Tryptophan, Glutamine, Threonine Alanine, Leucine, Proline Alanine Serine, Proline, Glycine Proline, Serine, Phenylalanine, Glycine Lysine, Phenylalanine Lysine, Leucine Histidine, Alanine, Alanine Histidine, Alanine, Valine Cysteine, Cysteine, Valine Cysteine, Cysteine, Leucine Trait Hairless Hairy Plump Skinny Long nose Short nose No freckles Freckles Blue Skin Orange Skin Male Female Data Table 4: CHNOPS Traits Gene A: Hair DNA ACC-GTA-TAT Gene B: Size DNA CGC-AAC-GGG Gene C: Nose Size DNA mRNA mRNA mRNA tRNA tRNA tRNA Amino Acid Amino Acid Amino Acid Sequence Sequence Sequence Trait Trait Trait Gene D: Freckles DNA TTC-AAC Gene E: Color DNA GTA-CGC-CGA Gene F: Gender DNA mRNA mRNA mRNA tRNA tRNA tRNA Amino Acid Amino Acid Amino Acid Sequence Sequence Sequence Trait Trait Trait Draw your Baby Below: CGA-AGG-GGT-CCC ACG-ACA-AAC Table 1: Amino Acid Sequence Amino Acid Sequence Tryptophan, Histidine, Isoleucine Tryptophan, Proline, Isoleucine Tryptophan, Glutamine, Threonine Alanine, Leucine, Proline Alanine Serine, Proline, Glycine Proline, Serine, Phenylalanine, Glycine Lysine, Phenylalanine Lysine, Leucine Histidine, Alanine, Alanine Histidine, Alanine, Valine Cysteine, Cysteine, Valine Cysteine, Cysteine, Leucine Trait Hairless Hairy Plump Skinny Long nose Short nose No freckles Freckles Blue Skin Orange Skin Male Female Data Table 5: CHNOPS Traits Gene A: Hair DNA ACC-GGG-TAT Gene B: Size DNA CGC-AAC-GGG Gene C: Nose Size DNA mRNA mRNA mRNA tRNA tRNA tRNA Amino Acid Amino Acid Amino Acid Sequence Sequence Sequence Trait Trait Trait Gene D: Freckles DNA TTT-AAG Gene E: Color DNA GTA-CGC-CAG Gene F: Gender DNA mRNA mRNA mRNA tRNA tRNA tRNA Amino Acid Amino Acid Amino Acid Sequence Sequence Sequence Trait Trait Trait Draw your Baby Below: GGC-AGG-AAA-CCT ACG-ACA-AAC Table 1: Amino Acid Sequence Amino Acid Sequence Tryptophan, Histidine, Isoleucine Tryptophan, Proline, Isoleucine Tryptophan, Glutamine, Threonine Alanine, Leucine, Proline Alanine Serine, Proline, Glycine Proline, Serine, Phenylalanine, Glycine Lysine, Phenylalanine Lysine, Leucine Histidine, Alanine, Alanine Histidine, Alanine, Valine Cysteine, Cysteine, Valine Cysteine, Cysteine, Leucine Trait Hairless Hairy Plump Skinny Long nose Short nose No freckles Freckles Blue Skin Orange Skin Male Female Data Table 6: CHNOPS Traits Gene A: Hair DNA ACC-GTA-TAT Gene B: Size DNA ACC-GTC-TGT Gene C: Nose Size DNA mRNA mRNA mRNA tRNA tRNA tRNA Amino Acid Amino Acid Amino Acid Sequence Sequence Sequence Trait Trait Trait Gene D: Freckles DNA TTT-AAG Gene E: Color DNA GTA-CGC-CAG Gene F: Gender DNA mRNA mRNA mRNA tRNA tRNA tRNA Amino Acid Amino Acid Amino Acid Sequence Sequence Sequence Trait Trait Trait Draw your Baby Below: GGC-AGG-AAA-CCT ACG-ACA-AAC
