Download Lab Instructions - Translation Please

DO NOT WRITE ON THIS LAB !!!!!
LAB # ______
Lab Instructions – Translation Please
Purpose: To help students understand the role of DNA, mRNA, tRNA, and amino acids
in the role of protein synthesis. This activity will also introduce the concept of mutations.
Procedure:
1. You will be working in 3 person teams.
2. The teacher’s desk is the nucleus and the DNA templates cannot leave that area. The
teacher will designate one team member’s desk for each group as the ribosome. The
mRNA must be read at this station.
3. Students have 3 jobs. One student will be the mRNA and transcribe the DNA at the
teacher’s desk.
4. With the mRNA sequence she/he will go back to the group’s desk and the ribosomal
student will write out the tRNA anti-codon sequence for the tRNA.
5. The tRNA student will go out to the cell (walls of the classroom) and will search out
the correct anti-codon card and flip the card over revealing the word. He/she will write
down the word and bring it back to the ribosome.
6. The ribosomal student will assemble the amino acids (words) into a protein (sentence).
7. This will continue until the sentence is complete.
8. If students incorrectly transcribe the DNA strand or the mRNA strand, then a mutation
will occur and the sentence will not make any sense.
9. Read the teacher your sentence and get another DNA template until you have
completed the required number of “proteins”.