RNA Transcription and Protein Synthesis via Translation
Name: ___________________________
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.
In addition show how proteins are translated from the mRNA
Materials:
DNA nucleotide templates
RNA nucleotide templates
scissors
Plain paper
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
2. Cut out the nucleotides and arrange 6 DNA nucleotides (as a single strand) in the order
given to you by your teacher. Tape the nucleotides together. This will only be half of
your DNA molecule. Tape this strand onto a blank sheet of paper.
3. Arrange and tape the DNA nucleotides that complement the other half of your DNA
molecule (G-C and T-A). Tape this second strand onto the paper halfway unzipped. Put a
circle around the DNA strand and label this as the nucleus.
4. Using only the original strand of DNA, begin matching complimentary mRNA
nucleotides and tape these together (A-U and G-C). Tape these beside and perpendicular
to your DNA strand onto the blank paper.
5. Draw 2 circles (snowman shaped) with your mRNA intersecting the 2 circles. Label
these 2 circles as the ribosome.
6. Reading left to right turn each group of 3 bases (codons) into complementary anticodons
(G-C and A-U). Using the amino acid code seen below, determine which anticodon
translates into which amino acid, there are 4 amino acids produced.
8. At the end of your mRNA strand draw the last anticodon, a tRNA (as a rectangle) and the
4 amino acids produced (as labelled circles) in order. The first amino acid produced will
be on the bottom of the linked amino acids, the last one produced will be on the top.
These linked amino acids make a protein.
Conclusions:
1. What are the 3 components of a DNA molecule?
2. What sugar is in DNA_________________ in RNA _________________?
3. Which base pairs bond together in a DNA molecule?
4. Which base pairs bond together in an RNA molecule?
5. How do DNA strands and RNA differ? (2 ways)
6. How many bases are in a codon________ in an anticodon________; how are these 2
different from each other?
7. What is the process of making mRNA from DNA called; where does it occur?
8. What is the process of assembling a protein (amino acids linked together) called, where
does it occur?
9. How many amino acids are linked to a single tRNA?
10.DNA code
mRNA sequence
Anticodon sequence
Amino acids sequence
GTA TCC CTT GAC TTC AAA GGG CCC ATG