A couple notes
Lab 4: Transcription and
Translation
Where are we today?
Today
we’ll go
from
here...
Text
To here
• Transcription:
• Translation:
• Transcription: writing again
• Translation:
• Transcription: writing again
• Translation: changing languages
Off to see the wizard...
Sending ‘messages’ out from DNA
• DNA
replication
– both strands => new
DNA
– => new cell
• Transcription
– 1 strand => new RNA
– => new protein
Amino Acids
• You & partner have an amino
acid; which is it? (homepage =>
quick refs -> amino acids)
Amino Acids
• How are they similar?
• How are they different?
• What do the differences mean
in terms of “feel”?
• How many are there?
• Possible?
Nucleic Acids
• How are they similar?
• How are they different?
• What do the differences mean in terms
of “feel”?
• Which is more diverse in terms of
shape and ‘feel’?
• Which would allow for more diverse
shapes and surfaces when
‘connected’?
A little Vocab
•
•
•
•
•
•
DNA
mRNA
rRNA
tRNA
Codon
Anticodon
How does a codon ‘mean’
an amino acid?
Translation
• Short video
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bLEDdPSTQ
The Play is the thing…
The Play is the thing…
Or, Fun With Blocks
The Play is the thing…
• ‘Types of Bonds’
– Velcro – can be easily broken/re-made
during lab
– Duct tape – breaking it gets you a zero (0)
for this week’s quiz
The Play is the thing…
• The Players
The Play is the thing…
• The Players
– tRNA
The Play is the thing…
• The Players
– tRNA
– Ribosome
The Play is the thing…
• The Players
– tRNA
– Ribosome
– Aminoacyl tRNA synthetase
The Play is the thing…
• The Players
– tRNA
– Ribosome
– Aminoacyl tRNA synthetase
– RNA polymerase
The Play is the thing…
• The Players
– tRNA (4 people)
– Ribosome (1)
– Aminoacyl tRNA synthetase (4)
– RNA polymerase (1-2) * and RNA
– Termination factor (1)
Numbers are per molecule for 2 molecules going at once
Learning your ‘lines’
• Handout: In pairs, answer questions
related to your task
• Lab manual, textbook, internet OK as
sources
• Meet your blocks-- 5’ is the end that
sticks to hair, socks, shirts
5’ end is pointy/spiky
3’ end is soft/furry
DNA Template
• 5’ CTTAAATCCGAATGCCCATG 3’
5’ is “sticky”, 3’ is “fuzzy”
5’ CTTAAATCCGAATGCCCATG 3’
5’ is “sticky”, 3’ is “fuzzy”
Wielding the Power
• ‘Recall’ that ribosome assembly is the
result of methionine tRNA finding a
match on mRNA in presence of small
ribosome subunit
• Only methionine tRNA (it will ‘know
itself’ once crowned by the synthetase
that hands out met) can team with
small ribosomal subunit & join with the
‘AUG’!
Walk-through with 1 tRNA
• Everybody watches visits to
synthetase, ribosome
• In reality, how is everyone
finding each other?
• In the real world, everything is
happening all the time; all is
happenstance
Ready?
• mRNA at the central bench
• ribosome assembles around it
• synthetases at bench corners (or
‘diffuse’ opp. direction vs. tRNA)
• tRNAs will ‘diffuse’ by following a path
through the room
• When any event first happens*, action
stops, molecules involved will
announce, explain Includes ‘didn’t work’
• Go until a protein happens
“Who” knows what’s
going on?
• What happens if a tRNA carries the
wrong amino acid?
• What happens if the mRNA contains a
copy error relative to DNA?
• What happens if a tRNA has a mutated
anticodon
Meet your new best friends
Protocol
• ½ inch layer of milk onto plate
• 1 drop of each food coloring onto various
locations around perimeter
• Dab wooden stick with detergent
• Touch stick to center of milk
• Observe!
• Hypothesize!
• Open rubric
Power Balance
33
Background
• I want to talk to you briefly about a
product.
• According to a number of testimonials, it
can...
– improve your balance
– improve your athletic performance
34
Says who?
SHAQUILLE O'NEAL
“I don’t really do a lot of testimonials, but this really works! I
came across Power Balance when someone did the test on me. That
night, while playing for the Phoenix Suns, there were about three of my
teammates with the product on and we won that game by 57 points! I kept
feeling something when I wore the bracelet, so I kept wearing it. When I
took it off I went back to normal. I’ve been wearing the bracelet ever
since. I want to do everything to get the slightest advantage; wristbands,
necklaces, t-shirts, band-aids, everything and anything we can get our
hands on. I’m here to tell you it works!”
35
How does it do that?
• According to the company:
...its Performance Technology that uses holograms embedded with
frequencies designed to work positively with your body’s natural
energy field
--Power Balance website
http://www.powerbalance.com
36
Offer
• I can get you these for 1/2 off the
website’s selling price of $30
• You can take home one of the used
ones today for $10
• Anybody interested?
37
Offer
• I can get you these for 1/2 off the
website’s selling price of $30
• You can take home one of the used
ones today for $10
• Anybody interested?
• What would it take to persuade you?
38
Turn in…
• Write names of all group members and
hand in
39