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Name: ___________________________________
Per. _____ Date: ________ Biology Honors
CHNOPS- Protein Synthesis Activity
Background Information
Protein synthesis is the process by which a protein is made. As you learned last semester, a protein is a
chain of amino acids held together by a peptide bond. This chain may be 10’s, 100’s, or even 1000’s long and has a
specific function (i.e. tubulin microtubules, catalase in cells, helicase to unwind DNA, etc.). There are only 20
amino acids; we are able to make 12 in our bodies (termed nonessential) and we must intake the other 8 in the food
we eat (essential - isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine). It is the
sequence of the amino acids which determines the specific protein. The sequence of amino acids is determined by
our DNA. DNA is the blueprint for all proteins and their respective amino acid sequences. A section of DNA
which codes for a sequence of amino acids (protein) is called a gene. It is the specific proteins which gives us our
traits and characteristics. In this lab, you will simulate protein synthesis and create a creature called a “CHNOPS.”
Problem
How is the protein synthesis related to our traits and characteristics?
Procedure
You are given the DNA sequences of 6 genes. You are to complete the protein synthesis for each gene and record
the trait each protein determines. Once you have determined all 6 traits for your CHNOPS, you will use those traits
to draw out how the CHNOPS might appear as part of your data in color on a separate sheet of paper.
Data
Trait 1
DNA: ATCGAGTCA
Trait 2
DNA: TTGCATTAA
Trait 3
DNA: AAACCGTTA
mRNA
mRNA
mRNA
tRNA
tRNA
tRNA
AA’s
AA’s
AA’s
Trait
Trait
Trait
Trait 4
DNA: GATTACAAA
Trait 5
DNA: GAGTAGCAT
Trait 6
DNA: TATTAACAA
mRNA
mRNA
mRNA
tRNA
tRNA
tRNA
AA’s
AA’s
AA’s
Trait
Trait
Trait
mRNA
UUU
UAG
GUU
GUA
GGC
CUC
CUA
AUU
AUG
AUC
AUA
AGU
AAU
AAC
AA #
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
AA Sequence
2 - 6 -12
2 – 7 – 12
8- 11 – 3
1 – 5 – 13
6 – 10 – 4
7–9–1
7 – 10 – 1
11 – 8 – 3
14 – 4 – 8
14 – 4 – 10
Trait
male
female
hairy
seven eyes
tall
yellow and green hair
blue hair
8 legs
two head
one head
Make your CHNOPS drawing on another sheet of paper, in color, and staple it to the back of this.
Lab questions
1. What are the structural differences between DNA and mRNA – be specific
2. What are the three stages of translation?
3. Explain a) What a ribosome does
b)Where ribosome are made
c)What makes up a ribosome
4. What is the difference between a codon and an anti-codon?
5. Match the DNA terms appropriately:
_______ DNA polymerase
_______ Constancy in base pairing
_______ Replication
_______ DNA double helix
a. two nucleotide strands that are twisted together
b. A with T, C with G
c. hereditary material duplication
d. replication enzyme
6. The pre-mRNA transcripts of a eukaryotic cells contain both introns and exons. Which are snipped out before the transcript
leaves the nucleus?
7. What are three examples of agents that cause a mutation?
8. You discover a tRNA with a mutation in DNA that encodes the anticodon AAU instead of AUU. In cells with the mutation,
what will be effect on protein synthesis?
9. Using p. 204 in your book, what polypeptide chain would be assembled if the DNA template read:
TACGTCTCATTCTGAATC
10. What would the affect be if the above DNA template’s 1 st nitrogenous base was skipped during protein synthesis?