Name: ______Period:____

Name: ______Period:____

Transcription, Translation, and Protein Synthesis

By now you all know that the genetic code for life is contained in the form of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). What you may not be aware of is how this code is used to make life work the way that it does. The way that the genetic code of DNA is expressed is through the production of specialized proteins that travel throughout the living being and perform a particular function. Proteins are not directly made from DNA though. The code must first be converted into a couple of different forms before the construction of proteins can take place. That is where transcription and translation come in. These are the processes that precede the production of proteins. In this activity you will simulate the steps that are taken by the cell in the production of proteins from the DNA code.

Directions:

  1. You will work with one partner. In your group you will group decide on one person for each of the following roles: mRNA transcriber and tRNA translator (these roles should be changed for each protein constructed).
  2. The mRNA transcriber must go up to the “nucleus” (the front desk) and choose one of the DNA template cards. This person will write down the number of the card and transcribe the code into mRNA, since the DNA cannot leave the nucleus.
  3. The mRNA transcriber will then travel through the cytoplasm (the classroom) to the ribosome (the group table) and give the code to the tRNA translator. The tRNA will decode the mRNA into tRNA.
  4. Next, both the mRNA and tRNA will work together to find the correct amino acid for each codon. Amino acids are located around the cell (the walls of the classroom).
  5. The amino acids will be put together in the correct order to make a protein (for this lab, it will make a sentence). When all members of the group have the protein (sentence) recorded the roles will be switched and another protein should be constructed from a different DNA template card.
  6. This process should be repeated for five different DNA template cards.

______

Record your information below for each DNA Template:

DNA Template #: _____

mRNA Codon: ______

tRNA Codon: ______

Protein (Sentence): ______

DNA Template #: _____

mRNA Codon: ______

tRNA Codon: ______

Protein (Sentence): ______

DNA Template #: _____

mRNA Codon: ______

tRNA Codon: ______

Protein (Sentence): ______

DNA Template #: _____

mRNA Codon: ______

tRNA Codon: ______

Protein (Sentence): ______

DNA Template #: _____

mRNA Codon: ______

tRNA Codon: ______

Protein (Sentence): ______

Conclusion Questions:

1. Describe/Define the process of transcription (be specific and include the molecules that are involved in the process as well as the start and end location.)

______

2. Describe/Define the process of translation (be specific and include the molecules that are involved in the process as well as the start and end location.)

______

3. List two ways that DNA and RNA are similiar.

a. ______

b, ______

4. List 4 ways that DNA and RNA are different.

a. ______

b. ______

c. ______

d. ______

  1. Transcribe the DNA sequence below into mRNA and tRNA. Next, use your amino acid wheel in your notebook to find the correct chain of amino acids that will construct the protein.

DNA Sequence TAC CCG TAT AAT CGG CCA CTC ACT

mRNA Sequence______

tRNA Sequence______

Amino Acids______

6. Using the DNA sequence in question #5, would it affect the protein if you inserted a Cytosine after the first codon “TAC.” Explain your answer below.

______

7. Take this template strand to tRNA anti-codons. Fill in all of the blanks as prompted.

DNAATGGACCCTGATGAATAGProcess (transcription or translation)

mRNA______

tRNA______