DNA, RNA, and Snorks
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. For simplicity, the gene
sequences are much smaller than real gene sequences found in living organisms. Each
gene has two versions (alleles) that result in a different phenotype being expressed.
Your job is to analyze the DNA sequences of the four types of Snorks and determine what
traits they have and then sketch them (You can be creative here). Each group will analyze
all four Snorks (one per person). For each Snork, write the DNA sequence, its
complementary mRNA sequence, the amino acid sequence and the resulting phenotype.
When you are finished decoding, you will draw (and color) the Snork.
Gene# - Trait
Amino Acid Sequence
Phenotype
Gene 1 - body covering
val - ser - leu
hairless
val - ser - lys
hairy
tyr - pro - glu - glu - lys
plump
val - pro - thr - glu - lys
skinny
leu - leu - leu - pro
3 legged
leu - leu - ser - ala
2 legged
ala - val - val
round head
val - ala - ala
square head
his - ile
tail
his - his
no tail
ser - pro - val
blue pigment (hair/skin)
val - phe - tyr
red pigment (hair/skin)
asp - ile - leu - leu - pro - thr
small slanted eyes
asp - ile - pro - pro - pro - thr
large round eyes
val - asp - asp - ala
circular mouth
asp - asp - asp - ala
rectangular mouth
phe - ser - gly
pointed standing-up ears
phe - phe - gly
rounded floppy ears
arg - tyr - cys - lys
long spaghetti like arms
arg - arg - asp - thr
short stumpy arms
Gene 2 - body style
Gene 3 - legs
Gene 4 - head shape
Gene 5 - tails
Gene 6 - body pigment
Gene 7 - eyes
Gene 8 - mouth
Gene 9 - ears
Gene 10 - arms
Snicker Snork
TAC | CAG TCG TTT | ATG GGG CTT CTC TTT | GAG AAT TCA CGC | CGA CAA
CAC | GTA GTA | CAA AAA ATG | CTA TAG AAT GAC GGG TGG | CTG CTG CTA
CGG | AAA AGA CCC | TCT ATA ACA | ATT
Snuffle Snork
TAC | CAT AGA TTT | CAA GGA TGA CTT TTC | GAA GAG GAG GGG | CAA CGC
CGA | GTA GTG | CAT AAA ATA | CAT TAA GAA GAC GGG TGT | CAA CTG CTG
CGT | AAG AGC CCA | TCT ATA ACA | ATT
Snapple Snork
TAC | CAG TCG GAA | CAA GGG TGT CTT TTT | GAG AAT TCA CCC | CAA CGC
CGA | GAG TAA | AGA GGG CAT | CTA TAA GGG GGG GGG TGG | CTA CTG CTG
CGT | AAG AAA CCC | GCG GCC CTG | ATT
Snoopy Snork
TAC | CAT AGG GAG | ATG GGG CTC CTT TTT | AAT AAT GAC GGG | CGA CAA
CAT | GTA TAA | AGA GGG CAT | CTA TAA GAA GAC GGG TGT | CAA CTA CTA
CGG | AAA AGA CCA | GCG GCA CTG | ATT