Alien Encounters
In the year 2050, an incredible archeological discovery was made in the middle of a
remote area of South America. It was an area where a large meteor had struck the
Earth. A pile of alien bones were found completely mixed up together. The scientists
were able to recover small fragments of DNA - which they brought back to their labs.
After much work, they determined that the DNA fragments represented 9 genes.
Procedure:
1. Put the DNA sequence for each gene in the proper location on your data sheet.
2. Transcribe the DNA for each gene into mRNA. Record those sequences.
3. Translate the mRNA into amino acids using the provided mRNA Codon Chart. Record the amino
acid sequence for each gene.
4. Use the “Alien Genes” chart to determine the traits that are associated with
each of your amino acids sequences and write those traits on the charts.
5. Answer the analysis questions after you are done
Questions:
A. GIve two ways in which mRNA is different than DNA.
C. How might a single change (mutation) in a nitrogen base of DNA alter the formation of a resulting
protein?
D. If you knew a particular amino acid sequence, could you figure out the DNA for that sequence?
Why or why not? Be sure to think about this (Use the example of Proline (PRO)
Double Click on the Box Below & Use the Google Drawing Tools to Draw Your Alien!
(or draw one on paper and upload the picture here:))
DATA Tables for Alien Gene Analysis:
Alien Number #30
Is your alien hairless or hairy?
GENE
A
DNA
ACCGGTTAT
mRNA
Amino Acids
Trait
Is your alien fat or skinny?
GENE B
DNA
ACCCAACAA
mRNA
Amino Acids
Trait
Does your alien have 4 legs or 8 legs?
GENE
C
DNA
AGCCGA
mRNA
Amino Acids
Trait
What size nose does your alien have?
GENE D
DNA
GTCAGGAAACCC
mRNA
Amino Acids
Trait
Does your alien have antennae or not?
GENE
E
DNA
TTTAAC
mRNA
Amino Acids
Trait
What color skin does your alien have?
GENE F
DNA
GGACGCGGG
mRNA
Amino Acids
Trait
How many fingers does your alien have?
GENE
G
DNA
GTCGTCCTA
mRNA
Amino Acids
Trait
Does your alien have a tail?
GENE H
DNA
CCCCCCTAT
mRNA
Amino Acids
Trait
Does your alien have 4 eyes or 8 eyes?
GENE
I
DNA
AGCCTACGC
mRNA
Amino Acids
Trait
ALIEN GENES
This table shows the amino acid sequences for the various alien genes and traits.
Gene
Letter
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
Amino Acid
Sequence
Val-pro-ile
Trp-pro-ile
Trp-val-val
Ile-ile-ser
Ser-ala
Ser-ser
Pro-ser-phe-gly
Gln-ser-phe-gly
Lys-phe
Lys-leu
Pro-ala-ala
Pro-ala-asp
Pro-ala-val
Pro-ala-pro
Gln-gln-asp
Gln-gln-lys
Gly-gly-ile
ala-gly-ile
Ile-asp-ala
Ser-asp-ala
Resulting Characteristic
Hairless
Hairy
fat
skinny
4 legs
8 legs
Long nose
Short nose
No antennae
4 antennae
Blue skin
Red skin
Yellow skin
Green skin
10 fingers
12 fingers
tail
No tail
4 eyes
8 eyes
***Don’t Forget to answer the questions & Draw your alien on page 1 **
Recovered Sequences = Alien Species #30