Name:___________________________________________
Star Trek
The Voyage of the Starship BIO
Objectives:
1. Illustrate the processes of Gene Expression: Transcription-Translation of DNA
2. Create Snorks that represent the process of gene expression
Directions:
You and your crew are on a mission to the far off planet of Snorkland in a distant solar system. Your job
is to find and study the snorks. Snorks only have 1 strand of DNA, and your job is to use your knowledge of
Replication, Transcription and Translation, to complete the study of the snorks. You are analyzing their RNA,
determining the traits of the organisms and then sketching the organism so you can bring the knowledge back
to the captain of the Starship BIO.
Information needed to complete the study:
Amino Acid Sequence
Body Covering
Body Style
Legs
Head shape
Tails
Body color
Eyes
Mouth
Ears
Arms
Trait Description
val – ser – leu
Hairless
val – ser – lys
Hairy
tyr – pro – gln – gln – lys
Plump
val – pro – thr – gln –lys
Skinny
leu – leu –leu –pro
Long-legged
leu –leu –ser –ala
Short-legged
ala – val – val
Round-ish head
val –ala –ala
Square-ish head
his – ile
Tail
his – his
No tail
val – tyr – phe
Blue pigment (hair/skin)
val – phe – tyr
Red pigment (hair/skin)
asn – ile – pro – leu – pro – thr
Small oval spread eyes
asn – ile – pro – pro – pro – thr
Large round close eyes
val – asn – asn – ala
Small mouth
asn –asn –asn – ala
Big mouth
phe – ser- gln
Pointed standing up ears
phe – phe – gln
Round floppy ears
arg –tyr –cys –lys
Long spaghetti arms
arg –arg – asp –thre
Short stumpy arms
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Prelab:
Complete the sequence.
1. Fill in the lines for the following sequences.
Complement:
____________________________________________________________________
Gene:
____________________________________________________________________
mRNA:
AUG -
tRNA:
_____________________________________________________________
AA:
_____________________________________________________________
Complement:
ATG - _____ - _____ - _____ - _____ - _____ - _____ - _____ - _____
Gene:
TAC
mRNA:
____ - _____ -
tRNA:
____ -
AA:
____ - _____ - _____ - _____ -
ACU - AGC - UGG - GGG - UAU - UAC - UUU - UAG
- _____ - _____ - _____ - _____ - ATG
CUC
- _____ - _____ - _____
UGU - GAU - _____ - _____ - _____ - _____ - _____
- _____ - _____ - _____ - _____ - UUG - _____ - AUU
ala
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- _____ - _____ -
pro
- _____
Each of the below DNA samples was taken from volunteer snorks. Your job is now to analyze each RNA
sample and determine what the snork looks like based on their DNA sequence. Remember that AUG is always
the start codon, and it signifies the beginning of each translation. UAA is a stop codon and signifies the end of
translation. You are to make the complementary strand of DNA, then the DNA strand and lastly translate the
information into amino acid sequences.
/25pts
DNA (the gene)
Sequences
Complementary
DNA
mRNA
AUG | GUC AGC AAA | UAC CCC CAA CAG AAA | CUC
UUA AGU GCG |GCU GUU GUG | CAU CAU | GUU UUU
UAC | AAU AUC CCA CUG CCC ACC | AAU AAC AAU
GCC | UUU UCU CAG | CGC CGA GAC ACA | UAA
Amino Acids
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Picture
/25pts
DNA (the gene)
Sequences
Picture
Complementary
DNA
mRNA
AUG | GUA UCU AAA | GUU CCU ACU CAA AAG | CUU
CUC CUC CCC | GUU GCG GCU | CAU CAC | GUA UAU
UUU | AAU AUU CCC CCU CCC ACA | AAC AAC AAU
GCA | UUC UCG CAG | CGC UAC UGC AAA | UAA
Amino Acids
Student Reflection (4pts per question)
Answer the following questions completely and honestly about the work you completed.
1. What is the central dogma of biology? Explain the process of gene expression in the
appropriate steps.
2. Describe the process of transcription.
3. How did this activity have you perform transcription?
4. Describe the process of translation.
5. How did you perform translation in this activity?
6. Describe precisely how you know where a gene starts and stops (give the sequences of DNA).
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7. You were given mRNA sequences instead of DNA sequences. Which two pieces of
information (boxes, basically) can you get directly from the RNA?
8. Which of the boxes were nearly identical (the difference being the T  U substitution)?
9. Are there any genes found that had the same trait but different codon sequences for the two
organisms? (Yes) List the DNA, mRNA, and amino acid sequences for each organism below.
DNA sequences
mRNA sequences
Amino acid sequences
10. Why did different DNA/codon sequences give the same amino acid sequence, and therefore
trait?
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