Name: ______DNA & Protein Synthesis Activity

Background: Every cell uses DNA as its genetic information. Thus, DNA provides the blueprints, and proteins serve as the tools that actually build and maintain the cell and carry out its activities.

Objective: Students will create an illustration to explain the organization and functioning of living things through the production of proteins.

Required Components:

DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acidmRNA: messenger RNAAmino acidscodon

rRNA: ribosomal RNAPolypeptide/Proteincytoplasmnucleus

TranscriptionTranslationanticodontRNA

CATEGORY / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Neatness / Story is readable, clean, neat and attractive. It is free of erasures and crossed-out words. It looks like the author took great pride in it. / Story is readable, neat and attractive. It may have one or two erasures, but they are not distracting. It looks like the author took some pride in it. / Story is readable and some of the pages are attractive. It looks like parts of it might have been done in a hurry. / Story is not neat or attractive. It looks like the student just wanted to get it done and didn't care what it looked like.
Focus on Assigned Topic / The entire story is related to the assigned topic and allows the reader to understand much more about the topic. / Most of the story is related to the assigned topic. The story wanders off at one point, but the reader can still learn something about the topic. / Some of the story is related to the assigned topic, but a reader does not learn much about the topic. / No attempt has been made to relate the story to the assigned topic.
Organization / The story is very well organized. One idea or scene follows another in a logical sequence with clear transitions. / The story is pretty well organized. One idea or scene may seem out of place. Clear transitions are used. / The story is a little hard to follow. The transitions are sometimes not clear. / Ideas and scenes seem to be randomly arranged.
Spelling and Punctuation / There are no spelling or punctuation errors / There is one spelling or punctuation / There are 2-3 spelling and punctuation errors / The final draft has more than 3 spelling and punctuation errors.
Accuracy of Facts / All facts presented in the story are accurate. / Almost all facts presented in the story are accurate. / Most facts presented in the story are accurate / There are several factual errors in the story.
Creativity / The story contains many creative details and/or descriptions that contribute to the reader's enjoyment. The author has really used his/her imagination. / The story contains a few creative details and/or descriptions that contribute to the reader's enjoyment. The author has used his/her imagination. / The story contains a few creative details and/or descriptions, but they distract from the story. The author has tried to use his/her imagination. / There is little evidence of creativity in the story. The author does not seem to have used much imagination.
Illustrations / Illustrations are detailed, attractive, creative, & relevant / Illustrations are somewhat detailed, attractive, and relevant / Illustrations are relevant / Illustrations are not present OR they are not relevant
Components / All of the required components are included / Missing one component / Missing two components / More than two components are missing
Title / Title is creative, sparks interest and is related to the story and topic. / Title is related to the story and topic. / Title is present, but does not appear to be related to the story and topic. / No title.

Personal Reflection:

Compare your product with others in the room.

1) Is there anything that you would change about your work? Explain.

2) How has this assignment enhanced your understanding of DNA and its role in controlling the activities of the cell?