Name ________________________________________
Date ___________________ Per ___
Build-A-Bug Protein Synthesis Activity
Part I: Your bug’s DNA codes for proteins, which are made of amino acids. The proteins made by your bug’s cells determine your
bug’s traits. Use the mRNA codon chart and your knowledge of transcription and translation to complete the chart below.
Part 2: Once you know the traits for your bug, cut out the correct parts and put the bug together and color it accordingly. You will
also need to color your bug according to the traits it has.
(Transcription)
Gene
Head Size
Thorax Size
Abdomen
Size
Eye
Color
Wing
Color
Wing Length
Leg Length
Antenna
Body Color
DNA Triplets
(Translation)
mRNA Codons
Bug DNA letter: ____
Amino Acid Chain
Trait
Name ________________________________________ Date ___________________ Per _____
Build-A-Bug Protein Synthesis Activity
Part 2: Once you know the traits for your bug, cut out the correct parts and put the bug together and
color it accordingly. You will also need to color your bug according to the traits it has.
Bug DNA Letter (A,B, C or D) ______
Your Bug’s Name:_____________________________________________________
Color and paste (or tape) your bug in the space below:
mRNA Codon Chart
mRNA Codon Chart
Bug DNA (A)
Here is your bug’s DNA. In order to decode the genetic message, you will first need to divide the
DNA into triplets. Then transcribe the DNA into mRNA and translate the mRNA into amino acids.
The amino acid sequence coded for by the DNA will determine the traits of your bug.
GAGCGACTT
GGACGGCCT
head gene
GCAAAAGTG
thorax gene
CGCAGGGTTCTA
wing color gene
TAAAACAACATAACG
abdomen gene
TAGCTAACG
wing length gene
eye color gene
TGACAGTTAGGA
TGGACAAGT
antenna gene
leg length gene
GCCGGAGTG
body color gene
Bug DNA (B)
Here is your bug’s DNA. In order to decode the genetic message, you will first need to divide the
DNA into triplets. Then transcribe the DNA into mRNA and translate the mRNA into amino acids.
The amino acid sequence coded for by the DNA will determine the traits of your bug.
GAGGAACTT
ACCCTACCG
head gene
thorax gene
CCAGTTAGGCGC
wing color gene
GTGGGAGCC
body color gene
CATAAAATG
TAGCGCACG
wing length gene
ACGTAAAACAACATA
abdomen gene
eye color gene
GGACAGTTAGGA
leg length gene
TGGACAAGT
antenna gene
Bug DNA (C)
Here is your bug’s DNA. In order to decode the genetic message, you will first need to divide the
DNA into triplets. Then transcribe the DNA into mRNA and translate the mRNA into amino acids.
The amino acid sequence coded for by the DNA will determine the traits of your bug.
GAGCGACTT
GGACGGCCT
head gene
GCAAAAGTG
thorax gene
CTAGTTAGGCGC
wing color gene
TAAAACAACATAACG
abdomen gene
TAGCGCACG
wing length gene
eye color gene
TGACAGTTAGGA
TGGACAAGT
antenna gene
leg length gene
GTGGGAGCC
body color gene
Bug DNA (D)
Here is your bug’s DNA. In order to decode the genetic message, you will first need to divide the
DNA into triplets. Then transcribe the DNA into mRNA and translate the mRNA into amino acids.
The amino acid sequence coded for by the DNA will determine the traits of your bug.
GAGGAACTT
GGACGGCCT
head gene
CCAGTTAGGCGC
wing color gene
GTGGGATGT
body color gene
CATAAAATG
thorax gene
TAGCTAACG
wing length gene
TAAAACAACATAACG
abdomen gene
eye color gene
TGACAGTTAGGA
leg length gene
ACAAGTTGG
antenna gene
Bug DNA (E)
Here is your bug’s DNA. In order to decode the genetic message, you will first need to divide the
DNA into triplets. Then transcribe the DNA into mRNA and translate the mRNA into amino acids.
The amino acid sequence coded for by the DNA will determine the traits of your bug.
GAGCGACTT
GGACGGCCT
head gene
CGCAGGGTTCTA
wing color gene
GCCGGAGTG
body color gene
GCAAAAGTG
thorax gene
TAGCTAACG
wing length gene
TAAAACAACATAACG
abdomen gene
eye color gene
TGACAGTTAGGA
leg length gene
ACAAGTTGG
antenna gene
Build-A-Bug Trait Information
Gene
Amino Acid Sequence (Protein)
Trait
Head Size
leucine/ alanine/ glutamic acid
small head
leucine/ leucine/ glutamic acid
large head
tryptophan/ aspartic acid/ glycine
short thorax
proline/ alanine/ glycine
long thorax
valine/ phenylalanine/ tyrosine
short abdomen
arginine/ phenylalanine/ histidine
long abdomen
isoleucine/ leucine/ leucine/
tyrosine/ Cysteine
red
Cysteine/ isoleucine/ leucine/
leucine/ tyrosine
white
glycine/ glutamine/ serine/ alanine
yellow
alanine/ serine/ glutamine/ aspartic
acid
purple
aspartic acid/ glutamine/ serine/
alanine
blue
isoleucine/ aspartic acid/ Cysteine
long wings
isoleucine/ alanine/ Cysteine
short wings
threonine/ valine/ asparagine/
proline
long legs
proline/ valine/ asparagine/ proline
short legs
Cysteine/ serine/ threonine
present
threonine/ Cysteine/ serine
absent
histidine/ proline/ arginine
orange
arginine/ proline/ histidine
brown
histidine/ proline/ threonine
gray
Thorax Size
Abdomen Size
Eye Color
Wing Color
Wing Length
Leg Length
Antenna
Body Color