Name ___________________________
DNA makes RNA, RNA makes Proteins, and Proteins determine your Traits!
1) Collect either two yellow sheets or two blue sheets of DNA.
2) Connect page 2 to the bottom of page 1 to create one long strand of DNA
(HINT: be careful not to cut off any base pairs!)
3) Fold the two combined sheets to cover one strand of DNA
4) Perform Transcription (Decode the DNA to create mRNA)
a. If you have a blue sheet you will cover the LEFT side of the DNA molecule and perform
transcription in the 5’ to 3’ direction (top to bottom)
b. If you have a yellow sheet you will cover the RIGHT side of the DNA molecule and perform
transcription in the 5’ to 3’ direction (bottom to top)
5) Place a BOX around the START codons
6) Place a CIRCLE around the STOP codons
7) Perform Translation decoding the mRNA to create proteins.
8) Complete the following questions
9) How many start codons did your group find in the RNA that was decoded? ___________
10) How many stop codons did your group find in the RNA that was decoded? ___________
11) How many proteins did your group create? ____________________
12) How many codons were contained in each of mRNA sequences that coded for a protein?
Protein 1. ____________________
Protein 2. ____________________
Protein 3. ____________________
13) How many amino acids were contained in each of the proteins your group created?
Protein 1. ____________________
Protein 2. ____________________
Protein 3. ____________________
Name ___________________________
14) List (in order) the names of all the amino acids found in the longest protein your group discovered
1. ____________________
11. ____________________
2. ____________________
12. ____________________
3. ____________________
13. ____________________
4. ____________________
14. ____________________
5. ____________________
15. ____________________
6. ____________________
16. ____________________
7. ____________________
17. ____________________
8. ____________________
18. ____________________
9. ____________________
19. ____________________
10. ____________________
20. ____________________
15) How would a deletion of the 1st cytosine of your mRNA change the length of the longest protein
that you created?
16) How would a substitution of the “A” in AUG change the longest protein that you created?
17) Compare your answers to those of another group that decoded the opposite side of the DNA
molecule. What do you notice about the proteins that were created?
18) Based on your previous answer, does it matter which side of the DNA molecule is transcribed
and then translated? Explain your answer.