General Biology
Name
KEY
In your online textbook (www.pearsonsuccessnet.com), login and use the ‘Explore’ function to
navigate to Unit 4—then Chapter 13 – then click the Activities tab for 13.2.
Part 1.InterActive Art: Protein Synthesis
Follow the instructions on the screen and press the play button to watch an animation of the
steps of Protein Synthesis. Fill in the blanks below based on the narrative that accompanies
the animation.
DNA
a) Which molecule contains coded instructions that control the production of proteins in a
cell? DNA
b) What do we call the first step of decoding these instructions?__Transcription
c) Name the molecule that serves as a copy of part of the DNA sequence__RNA_______
Transcription
a) Name the enzyme that separates DNA strands and builds RNA.
b) Which molecule acts as a template – DNA or RNA?
RNA Polymerase
DNA
c) What is the abbreviation for ‘messenger ribonucleic acid’? mRNA
The Ribosome
a) What will be built by joining together amino acids based on the sequence of nucleotides in
mRNA?
Polypeptide or protein
b) Name the structure found in the cytoplasm that is responsible for helping interpret these
instructions.
ribosomes
Translation
a) The attachment of mRNA to a ribosome marks the onset of what step? translation
b) Give the three-letter mRNA sequence that is called the start codon.
AUG
c) What type of RNA enters the ribosome and binds with the complementary mRNA codon?
tRNA
d) A complementary sequence of three bases on a tRNA is called an anticodon
e) What protein-building monomer is carried by each tRNA?
Amino acid
Completing the Polypeptide
a) The polypeptide continues to grow until it reaches what on the mRNA? Stop codon
b) How many amino acids are in the completed polypeptide shown in the animation?
9
Part 2.TutorTube
Watch the video (2:26). Fill in the blanks using the word bank. (The statements go in order
with the video.)
central dogma muscles
genes
proteins
phenotype
feathers
antibodies
catalyze
cells
genotype
DNA
allele
1. Your __phenoytpe__________ is what you see as physical traits.
2. The mix of __genes____ you get from your parents is your genotype.
3. An organism’s Genotype, or genetic makeup, is determined by its _DNA____ sequence.
4. An organism’s __genotype_____ determines its phenotype.
5. The __central dogma____ of molecular biology states that DNA makes RNA which makes
proteins.
6. _Proteins_____ determine phenotypes and are essential to virtually every aspect of cell
life.
7. Proteins are the main components of your _muscles____, cartilage, ligaments, skin and
hair.
8. __Feathers____, hooves, and [turtle] shells are mostly protein, too. Plants also rely on
proteins.
9. Important molecules such as insulin, _antibodies__, and hemoglobin are proteins.
10. Enzymes, which _catalyze________(speed up) and regulate a variety of important
chemical reactions, are proteins.
11. A red flower which has a red phenotype has an _allele______ (copy of a gene) which
encodes a protein that creates a red pigment in flowers.
12. All living things are made of cells_____.
Biology
Name ___________________________________
How do genes code for proteins? It is like deciphering a code. Use the following key to unlock the meaning
of the sentence.
A

K

B

L

C
D

E

M

N


F

G
H


R
O
P
Q



U
V
W
X
Y
Z







I

S

J

T

.
___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___.
How does this relate to DNA and its coding for proteins? Use the following chart to decipher the DNA code
below building a polypeptide.
DNA
Triplet
Amino
Acid
name
CAA
CTT
TAC
CAT
GTT
ACG
TTA
Valine
Glutamic
acid
Methionine
Alanine
Glycine
Cytosine
Aspartic
acid
DNA Code:
Polypeptide:
TAC
GTT
CAA
CTT
GTT
ACG
TTA
Biology
Name
Decoding DNA
Part 1.Code Cracking…Pick any TWO sequences to decode (choose from: chimp, human, flesh
eating microbe, sweet orange). Circle your two choices.
Transcribed Sequence (mRNA):
C A U
A
AA
C
A
C
C
A
Transcribed Sequence (mRNA):
A
G
A
C U
C
A
A
G
A
Transcribed Sequence (mRNA):
G
U U G U
C
A
Transcribed Sequence (mRNA):
A
C G A U
G U
C
C
U
A
A
A
U
UU
A
AA
C
G
G
GG
U
C
U
G
A
A
G
U
C
C
A
A
A
C
A
A
A
C
U
U
C
C
U
G
A
U
A
C
C
G
C
C
At the following website, find the section called “Function Finder”.
http://www.yourgenome.org/downloads/activities.shtml
Click the third option in the list in that box, called “Codon Cracker with Function Finder”.
You will use the CODON CRACKER to decode the two sequences you chose above.
Over
FOR EACH OF YOUR TWO CHOICES, FOLLOW THESE STEPS:
1. Write the DNA and mRNA code from your two choices into the rows in the tables below.
2. Go to the Codon Cracker website above. You will crack the code using the Transcribed
Sequence (mRNA) and be sure to click the corresponding button on the screen RNA.
3. Begin translation by entering the first three bases from your RNA code using your mouse to
click A, C, T, or G. Then, click “Translate”. You should see the name of the amino acid that was
coded by that set of three bases.
4. Click “Add to Chain” to start building your polypeptide chain on the screen.
5. Once your Polypeptide is complete, copy the line that says “Amino Acid Chain (3 Letter)”
into the table below.
6. Look through choices A - D below and find the amino acid chain that you just decoded.
Write the matching letter for the name/description of that protein in the last box of the table.
Choice 1 - Organism Name:
DNA Sequence
Transcribed mRNA
Sequence
Amino Acid Chain (3 letter)
Name/Description of Protein – Write the letter of the choice on the next page that
matches the code you cracked.
Choice 2 - Organism Name:
DNA Sequence
Transcribed mRNA
Sequence
Amino Acid Chain (3 Letter)
Name/Description of Protein – Write the letter of the choice on the next page that
matches the code you cracked.
Over
Name/Descriptions of Proteins:
a.
Amino Acid Sequence:Val – Val – Thre – Lys – Ser – Asn - Val
Part of the gene that codes for an enzyme called sialidase. When these cells infect an animal
they secrete sialidase to break-down the animal’s tissues, enabling them to spread through its
body.
b.
Amino Acid Sequence:Hist – Lys – Hist – Hist – Leu – Gly - Hist
Taken from the gene that codes for granulysin. Granulysin is atoxic protein that is released by
immune cells in response to infection, to killpathogens like bacteria.
c.
Amino Acid Sequence:Arg – Leu – Lys – Asp – Glut.Acid – Ala - Ser
Part of the OCA2 gene sequence. The OCA2 gene codes for a protein
called the P protein which is involved in pigmentation. Variation in its sequence is a major
influence on brown vs. blue eye color.
d.
Amino Acid Sequence:Thr – Meth – Ser – Thr – Thr – Thr - Thr
Sequence taken from the gene that codes for pectinesterase. Pectinesterase
is an enzyme that helps to break down cell walls and soften tissues during the process of
ripening.
This activity modified from the original found here: http://www.yourgenome.org/downloads/pdf/teachers/seq/FT_sequence_bracelets.pdf
Part 2.deCODE: What's your name in DNA?
Now go to this website (best performance with Google Chrome):
http://www.ebi.ac.uk/cgi-bin/decode/decode.cgi
Type in any single word (a first name, or any other single word of your choice) in the box.
What is the name/word that you typed in?
your full name.)
(For security, please don’t use
Click “deCode”. Write your personalized decode results. Name = ______________________
The letters of your name have been changed to the closest DNA bases. Write your name/word
in DNA letters as it appears on the screen:
The website searched for a protein which closely matched your personalized sequence. What
were the results of that search?