Name:______________________
Period:____
Date:__________
DNA, RNA, and Snorks
Introduction: In this simulation, you will examine the DNA sequence of a fictitious organism - the Snork. Snorks were
discovered on the planet Dee Enae in a distant solar system. Snorks only have one chromosome with eight genes on
it. Your job is to analyze the genes of its DNA and determine what traits the organism has and then sketch the
organism (You can be creative here).
For simplicity, the gene sequences are much smaller than -real- gene sequences found in living organisms. Each gene
has two versions that result in a different trait being expressed in the Snork.
Genes
Gene 1 - body covering
Gene 2 - body style
Gene 3 - legs
Gene 4 - head shape
Gene 5 - tails
Gene 6 – body color
Gene 7 - eyes
Gene 8 - mouth
Gene 9 - ears
Gene 10 - arms
Amino Acid Sequence
Description
met-val - ser - leu
hairless
met -val - ser - lys
hairy
met-tyr - pro - glu - glu - lys
plump
met-val - pro - thr - glu - lys
skinny
met-leu - leu - leu - pro
3 legged
met-leu - leu - ser - ala
2 legged
met-ala - val - val
round head
met-val - ala - ala
square head
met-his - ile
tail
met-his - his
no tail
met-ser - pro - val
green & orange Hair | blue striped skin
met-val - phe - tyr
red & orange Hair & purple polka dot skin
met-asp - ile - leu - leu - pro - thr
small eyes
met-asp - ile - pro - pro - pro - thr
large round eyes
met-val - asp - asp - ser
small, circular mouth
met-asp - asp - asp - ala
large, rectangular mouth
met-phe - ser - gly
pointed standing-up ears
met-phe - phe - gly
rounded floppy ears
met-arg - tyr - cys - lys
long spaghetti like arms
met-arg - arg - asp - thr
short stumpy arms
Directions:
Each of the following DNA samples was taken from volunteer Snorks. The DNA was then transcribed to its complimentary RNA
strand. Your job is to:
1. Analyze the RNA sample and determine the phenotype (how the organism looks) based on the sequence.
a. Fill in the table with the appropriate amino acid and trait
b. Use the attached codon chart for help
c. Note: one or more of your Snorks may have a genetic mutation. If you find an amino acid sequence that does
not match, give your Snork a new trait! Be sure to clearly mark this change in your table.
2. After you have determined the phenotype, draw each Snork on the back of this sheet under the appropriate heading.
a. Be colorful and creative
Snicker Snork
Gene
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
RNA Sequence
AUG GUC AGC AAA UAA
AUG UAC CCC GAA GAG AAA UAA
AUG CUC UUA AGU GCG UAA
AUG GCU GUU GUG UGA
AUG CAU CAU UGA
AUG GUU UUU UAC UGA
AUG GAU AUC UUA CUG CCC ACC UAG
AUG GAC GAC GAU GCC UAG
AUG UUU UCU GGG UAG
AUG AGA UAU UGU AAA UAA
Amino Acid Sequence
met-val-ser-lys-Stop
met-tyr-pro-glu-glu-lys-Stop
Trait
hairy
plump
Snuffle Snork
Gene
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
RNA Sequence
AUG GUA UCU AAA UAA
AUG GUU CCU ACU GAA AAG UAA
AUG CUU CUC CUC CCC UAA
AUG GUU GCG GCU UGA
AUG CAU CAC UGA
AUG GUA UUU UAU UGA
AUG GAU AUU CUU CUG CCC ACA UAG
AUG GUU GAC GAC GCA UAG
AUG UUC UCG GGU UAG
AUG AGA UAU UGU AAA UAA
Amino Acid Sequence
Trait
Snappy Snork
Gene
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
RNA Sequence
AUG GUC AGC CUU UAA
AUG GUU CCC ACA GAA AAA UAA
AUG CUC UUA AGU GCG UAA
AUG GUU GCG GCU UGA
AUG CAC AUU UGA
AUG UCU CCC GUA UGA
AUG GAU AUU CCC CCC CCC ACC UAG
AUG GAU GAC GAC GCA UAG
AUG UUC UUU GGG UAG
AUG CGC CGG GAC ACA UAA
Amino Acid Sequence
Trait
Swaggy Snork
Gene
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
RNA Sequence
AUG GUA UCC CUC UAA
AUG UAC CCC GAG GAA AAA UAA
AUG UUA UUA CUG CCC UAA
AUG GCU GUU GUA UGA
AUG CAU AUU UGA
AUG UCU CCC GUA UGA
AUG GAU AUU CUU CUG CCC ACA UAG
AUG GUU GAU GAU GCC UAG
AUG UUU UCU GGU UAG
AUG CGC CGU GAC ACA UAA
Amino Acid Sequence
Trait