DNA and Proteins
In this guide you will be learning
about DNA and proteins
Presented by Garth Jensen Emerson Middle School
A project from AMGEN workshop 2004
Click here to see which standards
will be addressed in this guide
Click here to go to the navigation page
7th Grade Standards to be covered
in this guide
• 1c The nucleus contains genetic material
• 2c Traits are inherited by one or more genes
• 2d Plant and animal cells contain thousands of
genes
• 2e DNA is the genetic material for living things
• 3a Genetic variation and environment are
causes of evolution and diversity
• 3c Evidence for evolution includes geology,
fossils, comparative anatomy and genetics
• 3d Students construct a simple branching
diagram to classify organisms
Click on the
buttons below to
learn about a
particular item
•
•
•
•
•
What
What
What
What
What
is
is
is
is
is
DNA?
transcription?
a protein?
translation?
bioinformatics?
DNA
DNA is a molecule
found in all living
organisms.
It is made of a chain
of smaller units called
nucleotides.
Each nucleotide has
three parts, a sugar, a
base and a phosphate
group.
Click here to go to a DNA website
Transcription
Transcription involves
a two step process.
First a DNA molecule
needs to unzip. Then
RNA polymerase
makes an mRNA
molecule. The mRNA
molecule then goes to
the ribosomes.
Proteins
Proteins are used as
building blocks for
tissues of all living
things. Proteins are
determined by the
DNA sequence of
nucleotides.
Click here to view the twenty amino
acids
Proteins are made
of amino acids.
There are twenty
amino acids found
in all living things.
Proteins are made
through a process
called translation.
Translation
The process of translation
occurs on the ribosomes.
Translation is the making
of proteins based on
mRNA. Amino acids are
carried to the ribosomes
by tRNA, the ribosomes
join the amino acids
together to form proteins.
Other websites to investigate
DNA
http://www.dnai.org/a/index.html
Click on Finding the code
http://www.dnaftb.org/dnaftb/19/concept/index.
html
Transcription
http://vcell.ndsu.nodak.edu/~christjo/vcell/ani
mationSite/transcription/index.htm
http://www.dnai.org/a/index.html
Click on copying the code
More Sites
Translation
http://vcell.ndsu.nodak.edu/~christjo/vcell/animat
ionSite/translation/index.html
http://www.dnai.org/a/index.html
Click on Reading the code
Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics is the use of technology to
organize the vast amounts of information that
have been accumulating over recent years.
Developments in molecular biology and gene
mapping have made it necessary to develop a
system where research can be shared easily.
Click here to find out how scientists can use bioinformatics in
their genetic research
Using the Biology Workbench
The biology workbench is a tool that people
can use to compare the genetics of different
organisms. Many organisms have had many
of their genes mapped out. This information
has been placed into data bases that are able
to be accessed by the public.
Continued
To get an idea of how this tool is used lets say
we want to compare a gene for the following
nine animals: rabbit, frog, human, pig, mouse,
chicken, turkey, eel, and lungfish. We will be
using the troponin c gene which is for skeletal
muscle. At this time ask your teacher for the
biology workbench worksheet. And click below
to get to the Biology workbench web site.
Then follow the instructions on the paper.
Click here to open the biology workbench worksheet
Biology Workbench Web site
View a troponin C protein
Click here to view a troponin c protein
molecule