Download Make an Animal Activity: Coyote

Your Name: _______________________________________________
Coyote DNA Analysis
Find out what your animal looks like using only the
DNA from your animal's chromosomes. Below is the key
that is needed to determine what traits correspond to
each amino acid sequence.
1. The DNA for your animal is coded on one side of the helix.
Transcribe the DNA strand into mRNA. Don't forget the special
base pair rules for RNA! Separate the triplets into codons by
putting a mark after every 3 (three) bases.
2. Translate the mRNA into an amino acid chain. Use the amino acid chart to find the amino acid that
corresponds to each codon. Remember, translation for each chain always starts with the amino acid
methionine (Met) and ends with one of the stop codons (UGA, UAG, UAA).
3. Use the amino acid sequence to find which traits are produced. In this exercise, all traits will be seven
amino acids long. Remember, in nature traits may be the result of several thousand amino acids. Traits
can be found on the many different chromosomes found in the cells of each species.
4. Finally, create your animal by putting together all of the traits that you found. Draw the animal on a
separate sheet of paper. Be creative!
Amino Acid Protein Chain
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Met-Tyr-Cys-Gln-Glu-Ile-Asp
Met-Thr-Pro-Gln-Glu-Ile-Asp
Met-Thr-Cys-Pro-Trp-Gly-Tyr
Met-Thr-Ser-Gly-Trp-Pro-Tyr
Met-Ala-Gly-Ser-Gln-Thr-Phe
Met-Val-Met-Ala-Gly-Ser-Gln
Met-Leu-Ser-Met-His-Arg-Gly
Met-Leu-Ser-Gly-Asn-Arg-Gly
Met-Asp-Glu-Gln-Asn-Arg-Cys
Met-Asn-Gln-Glu-Asp-Arg-Cys
Met-Val-Ala-Leu-Pro-Met-Ile
Met-Val-Ala-Asn-Pro-Thr-Ile
Trait
Brown fur
Gray fur
Large, round yellow eyes
Small, slanted green eyes
White chest
Black chest
Black tail
Brown tail
White paws
Black paws
Black nose
Pink nose