DNA/RNA Templates
BIOLOGY ACTIVITY
RNA Transcription
Names: ____________________________________
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Objective: Formulate a model to show how the order of bases in DNA determines the order of bases in mRNA
and infer why the structure of DNA enables it to be easily copied.
Materials:
DNA nucleotide templates
RNA nucleotide templates
scissors
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
clear tape
colored pencils or markers
Assigned order of DNA bases
Procedure:
1. Color the DNA template nucleotides and RNA template nucleotides with these colors:
deoxyribose – orange
adenine - red
ribose – brown
thymine – green
phosphate – black
guanine – blue
cytosine – yellow
Cut out the nucleotides and arrange the DNA nucleotides in the order given to you by your teacher. Tape the
nucleotides together. This will only be half of your DNA molecule.
Arrange and tape the DNA nucleotides that complete the other half of your DNA molecule.
Using only the original strand of DNA, begin matching complimentary mRNA nucleotides and tape these
together.
You can now tape the two halves of your DNA molecules together.
You have demonstrated how DNA provides the message for mRNA.
Turn in your DNA and RNA models along with this worksheet.
Conclusions:
1. Does the mRNA model more closely resemble the DNA strand from which it was transcribed or the
complementary strand that wasn’t used? Explain
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2. Explain how the structure of DNA enables the molecule to be easily transcribed. Whys is this important for
genetic information?
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3. Whys is RNA important to the cell? How does an mRNA molecule carry information from DNA?
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BIOLOGY ACTIVITY
RNA Translation
Names: ____________________________________
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Objective: To determine the amino acid sequence that would be produced by the mRNA created in the RNA
Translation Activity
Materials:
Your mRNA model
mRNA Codon - Amino Acid Table
Procedure:
1. Beginning with the 1st three bases on your mRNA model, use the table below to determine what amino acid
each mRNA codon will code for.
2. Write the amino acid chain produced in the space provided for Conclusion #1.
mRNA Codon - Amino Acid Table
Second Letter
F
i
r
s
t
L
e
t
t
e
r
U
3 C
U r
d A
G
U
3 C
C r
d A
G
U
3 C
A r
d A
G
U
3 C
G r
d A
G
U
Phenylalanine
Phenylalanine
Leucine
Leucine
Leucine
Leucine
Leucine
Leucine
Isoleucine
Isoleucine
Isoleucine
Methionine (start)
Valine
Valine
Valine
Valine
C
Serine
Serine
Serine
Serine
Proline
Proline
Proline
Proline
Threonine
Threonine
Threonine
Threonine
Alanine
Alanine
Alanine
Alanine
A
Tyrosine
Tyrosine
Stop
Stop
Histidine
Histidine
Glutamine
Glutamine
Asparagine
Asparagine
Lysine
Lysine
Aspartic acid
Aspartic acid
Glutamic acid
Glutamic acid
G
Cysteine
Cysteine
Stop
Tryptophan
Arginine
Arginine
Arginine
Arginine
Serine
Serine
Arginine
Arginine
Glycine
Glycine
Glycine
Glycine
Conclusions:
1. Write your amino acid sequence here:
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2. Would your amino acid sequence make a complete protein? Explain.
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