BUILD-A-BUG
DNA is like a secret message that your cells must decode in order to determine the traits an organism will
have. In this activity you will be exploring the steps that a cell goes through to turn a jumble of A’s, G’s, T’s,
and C’s into something meaningful. You will be given a strand of DNA that codes for the traits of a bug.
Part I: Your bugs’ DNA codes for proteins. Proteins consist of several amino acids. The amino acid chain (your
bug’s protein) determines the traits for your bug. Use the mRNA codon wheel and the DNA provided to decode
the message.
Part 2: Once you know the traits for your bug, cut out the correct parts and put the bug together and color it
accordingly. You will also need to color your bug according to the traits it has.
Gene
Head Size
Thorax
Size
Abdomen
Size
Eye
Color
Wing
Length
Leg Length
Antenna
Body Color
DNA Triplets
mRNA Codons
Amino Acid Chain
mRNA Codon Wheel
HOW TO USE A CODON
WHEEL:
Start in the middle of the wheel
and find the first base from the
mRNA codon (ex. GUC) Then
move out one layer and look for
the second base (ex. GUC). Then
the in the last level look for the
third base (ex. GUC). This will
give you the amino acid for that
codon (ex. GUC = Valine)
Trait
Here is your bug’s DNA. As you can see, not all of the DNA in a chromosome codes for traits. Some
DNA, called non-coding DNA, is not part of a gene. The purpose of this non-coding DNA is still a
matter of scientific debate. The coding regions, genes, in your DNA strand are shaded gray.
In order to decode the genetic message, you will first need to:
1. Divide the DNA into triplets.
2. Then copy (transcribe) the DNA into mRNA using base-pairing rules (A-U, G-C)
3. Use the mRNA codons and the codon chart to find the amino acid sequence (translation).
4. Use the amino acid sequence coded for by the DNA to determine the traits of your bug
5. Use the traits to construct your bug.
Bug’s DNA (A)
GAGCGACTTAC GGACGGCCTGT GCAAAAGTGCC TAAAACAACATAACG
head gene
thorax gene
abdomen gene
eye color gene
GCCGGAGTGGTTCACTAGCTAACGCT TGACAGTTAGGAGTT TGGACAAGT
body color gene
wing length gene
leg length gene
antenna gene
Gene
Amino Acid Sequence
(Protein)
Trait
Head Size
leucine/ alanine/ glutamic acid
leucine/ leucine/ glutamic acid
small head
large head
Thorax Size
tryptophan/ aspartic acid/ glycine
proline/ alanine/ glycine
short thorax
long thorax
Abdomen Size
valine/ phenylalanine/ tyrosine
arginine/ phenylalanine/ histidine
short abdomen
long abdomen
Eye Color
isoleucine/ leucine/ leucine/ tyrosine/ cystine
cystine/ isoleucine/ leucine/ leucine/ tyrosine
red
white
Wing Length
isoleucine/ aspartic acid/ cystine
isoleucine/ alanine/ cystine
long wings
short wings
Leg Length
threonine/ valine/ asparagine/ proline
proline/ valine/ asparagine/ proline
long legs
short legs
Antenna
cystine/ serine/ threonine
threonine/ cystine/ serine
present
absent
Body Color
histidine/ proline/ arginine
arginine/ proline/ histidine
histidine/ proline/ threonine
orange
brown
gray
Here is your bug’s DNA. As you can see, not all of the DNA in a chromosome codes for traits. Some
DNA, called non-coding DNA, is not part of a gene. The purpose of this non-coding DNA is still a
matter of scientific debate. The coding regions, genes, in your DNA strand are shaded gray.
In order to decode the genetic message, you will first need to:
1. Divide the DNA into triplets.
2. Then copy (transcribe) the DNA into mRNA using base-pairing rules (A-U, G-C)
3. Use the mRNA codons and the codon chart to find the amino acid sequence (translation).
4. Use the amino acid sequence coded for by the DNA to determine the traits of your bug
5. Use the traits to construct your bug.
Bug’s DNA (B)
GAGGAACTTAA ACCCTACCGCG CATAAAATGTT ACGTAAAACAACATA
head gene
thorax gene
abdomen gene
eye color gene
GTGGGAGCCTGACCATAGCGCACGAT GGACAGTTAGGATGTTGGACAAGT
body color gene
wing length
gene
leg length gene
antenna gene
Gene
Amino Acid Sequence (Protein)
Trait
Head Size
leucine/ alanine/ glutamic acid
leucine/ leucine/ glutamic acid
small head
large head
Thorax Size
tryptophan/ aspartic acid/ glycine
proline/ alanine/ glycine
short thorax
long thorax
Abdomen Size
valine/ phenylalanine/ tyrosine
arginine/ phenylalanine/ histidine
short abdomen
long abdomen
Eye Color
isoleucine/ leucine/ leucine/ tyrosine/ cystine
cystine/ isoleucine/ leucine/ leucine/ tyrosine
red
white
Wing Length
isoleucine/ aspartic acid/ cystine
isoleucine/ alanine/ cystine
long wings
short wings
Leg Length
threonine/ valine/ asparagine/ proline
proline/ valine/ asparagine/ proline
long legs
short legs
Antenna
cystine/ serine/ threonine
threonine/ cystine/ serine
present
absent
Body Color
histidine/ proline/ arginine
arginine/ proline/ histidine
histidine/ proline/ threonine
orange
brown
gray
Here is your bug’s DNA. As you can see, not all of the DNA in a chromosome codes for traits. Some
DNA, called non-coding DNA, is not part of a gene. The purpose of this non-coding DNA is still a
matter of scientific debate. The coding regions, genes, in your DNA strand are shaded gray.
In order to decode the genetic message, you will first need to:
1. Divide the DNA into triplets.
2. Then copy (transcribe) the DNA into mRNA using base-pairing rules (A-U, G-C)
3. Use the mRNA codons and the codon chart to find the amino acid sequence (translation).
4. Use the amino acid sequence coded for by the DNA to determine the traits of your bug
5. Use the traits to construct your bug.
Bug’s DNA (C)
GAGCGACTTCG GGACGGCCTAC GCAAAAGTGAT TAAAACAACATAACG
head gene
thorax gene
abdomen gene
eye color gene
GTGGGAGCCTTCGACTAGCGCACGCT TGACAGTTAGGAGGTTGGACAAGT
body color
gene
wing length
gene
leg length gene
antenna gene
Gene
Amino Acid Sequence (Protein)
Trait
Head Size
leucine/ alanine/ glutamic acid
leucine/ leucine/ glutamic acid
small head
large head
Thorax Size
tryptophan/ aspartic acid/ glycine
proline/ alanine/ glycine
short thorax
long thorax
Abdomen Size
valine/ phenylalanine/ tyrosine
arginine/ phenylalanine/ histidine
short abdomen
long abdomen
Eye Color
isoleucine/ leucine/ leucine/ tyrosine/ cystine
cystine/ isoleucine/ leucine/ leucine/ tyrosine
red
white
Wing Length
isoleucine/ aspartic acid/ cystine
isoleucine/ alanine/ cystine
long wings
short wings
Leg Length
threonine/ valine/ asparagine/ proline
proline/ valine/ asparagine/ proline
long legs
short legs
Antenna
cystine/ serine/ threonine
threonine/ cystine/ serine
present
absent
Body Color
histidine/ proline/ arginine
arginine/ proline/ histidine
histidine/ proline/ threonine
orange
brown
gray
Here is your bug’s DNA. As you can see, not all of the DNA in a chromosome codes for traits. Some
DNA, called non-coding DNA, is not part of a gene. The purpose of this non-coding DNA is still a
matter of scientific debate. The coding regions, genes, in your DNA strand are shaded gray.
In order to decode the genetic message, you will first need to:
1. Divide the DNA into triplets.
2. Then copy (transcribe) the DNA into mRNA using base-pairing rules (A-U, G-C)
3. Use the mRNA codons and the codon chart to find the amino acid sequence (translation).
4. Use the amino acid sequence coded for by the DNA to determine the traits of your bug
5. Use the traits to construct your bug.
Bug’s DNA (D)
GAGCGACTTCG ACCCTACCGAG CATAAAATGAC TAAAACAACATAACG
head gene
thorax gene
abdomen gene
eye color gene
GCCGGAGTGTTGCAT TAGCTAACGGC GGACAGTTAGGATATACAAGTTGG
body color gene
wing length gene
leg length gene
antenna gene
Gene
Amino Acid Sequence (Protein)
Trait
Head Size
leucine/ alanine/ glutamic acid
leucine/ leucine/ glutamic acid
small head
large head
Thorax Size
tryptophan/ aspartic acid/ glycine
proline/ alanine/ glycine
short thorax
long thorax
Abdomen Size
valine/ phenylalanine/ tyrosine
arginine/ phenylalanine/ histidine
short abdomen
long abdomen
Eye Color
isoleucine/ leucine/ leucine/ tyrosine/ cystine
cystine/ isoleucine/ leucine/ leucine/ tyrosine
red
white
Wing Length
isoleucine/ aspartic acid/ cystine
isoleucine/ alanine/ cystine
long wings
short wings
Leg Length
threonine/ valine/ asparagine/ proline
proline/ valine/ asparagine/ proline
long legs
short legs
Antenna
cystine/ serine/ threonine
threonine/ cystine/ serine
present
absent
Body Color
histidine/ proline/ arginine
arginine/ proline/ histidine
histidine/ proline/ threonine
orange
brown
gray
Here is your bug’s DNA. As you can see, not all of the DNA in a chromosome codes for traits. Some
DNA, called non-coding DNA, is not part of a gene. The purpose of this non-coding DNA is still a
matter of scientific debate. The coding regions, genes, in your DNA strand are shaded gray.
In order to decode the genetic message, you will first need to:
1. Divide the DNA into triplets.
2. Then copy (transcribe) the DNA into mRNA using base-pairing rules (A-U, G-C)
3. Use the mRNA codons and the codon chart to find the amino acid sequence (translation).
4. Use the amino acid sequence coded for by the DNA to determine the traits of your bug
5. Use the traits to construct your bug.
Bug’s DNA (E)
GAGGAACTTGC GGACGGCCTAC CATAAAATGCA TAAAACAACATAACG
head gene
thorax gene
abdomen gene
eye color gene
GTGGGATGTTTCGCA TAGCTAACGCC TGACAGTTAGGAGATACAAGTTGG
body color gene
wing length gene
leg length gene
antenna gene
Gene
Amino Acid Sequence (Protein)
Trait
Head Size
leucine/ alanine/ glutamic acid
leucine/ leucine/ glutamic acid
small head
large head
Thorax Size
tryptophan/ aspartic acid/ glycine
proline/ alanine/ glycine
short thorax
long thorax
Abdomen Size
valine/ phenylalanine/ tyrosine
arginine/ phenylalanine/ histidine
short abdomen
long abdomen
Eye Color
isoleucine/ leucine/ leucine/ tyrosine/ cystine
cystine/ isoleucine/ leucine/ leucine/ tyrosine
red
white
Wing Length
isoleucine/ aspartic acid/ cystine
isoleucine/ alanine/ cystine
long wings
short wings
Leg Length
threonine/ valine/ asparagine/ proline
proline/ valine/ asparagine/ proline
long legs
short legs
Antenna
cystine/ serine/ threonine
threonine/ cystine/ serine
present
absent
Body Color
histidine/ proline/ arginine
arginine/ proline/ histidine
histidine/ proline/ threonine
orange
brown
gray
Here is your bug’s DNA. As you can see, not all of the DNA in a chromosome codes for traits. Some
DNA, called non-coding DNA, is not part of a gene. The purpose of this non-coding DNA is still a
matter of scientific debate. The coding regions, genes, in your DNA strand are shaded gray.
In order to decode the genetic message, you will first need to:
1. Divide the DNA into triplets.
2. Then copy (transcribe) the DNA into mRNA using base-pairing rules (A-U, G-C)
3. Use the mRNA codons and the codon wheel to find the amino acid sequence (translation).
4. Use the amino acid sequence coded for by the DNA to determine the traits of your bug
5. Use the traits to construct your bug.
Bug’s DNA (F)
GAGCGACTTCG GGACGGCCTGG GCAAAAGTGGATAAAACAACATAACG
head gene
thorax gene
abdomen gene
eye color gene
GCCGGAGTGTCATCT TAGCTAACGGC TGACAGTTAGGACATACAAGTTGG
body color gene
wing length gene
leg length gene
antenna gene
Gene
Amino Acid Sequence (Protein)
Trait
Head Size
leucine/ alanine/ glutamic acid
leucine/ leucine/ glutamic acid
small head
large head
Thorax Size
tryptophan/ aspartic acid/ glycine
proline/ alanine/ glycine
short thorax
long thorax
Abdomen Size
valine/ phenylalanine/ tyrosine
arginine/ phenylalanine/ histidine
short abdomen
long abdomen
Eye Color
isoleucine/ leucine/ leucine/ tyrosine/ cystine
cystine/ isoleucine/ leucine/ leucine/ tyrosine
red
white
Wing Length
isoleucine/ aspartic acid/ cystine
isoleucine/ alanine/ cystine
long wings
short wings
Leg Length
threonine/ valine/ asparagine/ proline
proline/ valine/ asparagine/ proline
long legs
short legs
Antenna
cystine/ serine/ threonine
threonine/ cystine/ serine
present
absent
Body Color
histidine/ proline/ arginine
arginine/ proline/ histidine
histidine/ proline/ threonine
orange
brown
gray
Analysis Questions:
1. What are genes?
2. Describe the steps you went through to determine your bug’s traits.
3. Which of these steps represents transcription?
4. Which of these steps represents translation?
5. Analyze the eye color gene for your bug. Now find someone whose bug has a different eye
color. What differences do you see?
Build -a-Bug Rubric
Task
Points Possible
Codon table completed
Bug built w/ correct head size
Bug built w/ correct thorax size
Bug built w/ correct abdomen
size
Bug built w/ correct eye color
Bug built w/ correct wing color
Bug built w/ correct wing length
Bug built w/ correct leg length
Bug built w/ correct antenna
Bug built w/ correct body color
Analysis questions
Project Total
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
20
100
Points Earned