Download Protein Synthesis Bead Activity

ITB
Jones
Name:
Period:
Date:
Protein Synthesis Bead Activity
Let’s make proteins! Fill in the paragraph below and then follow the instructions to make a beaded
protein.
________ is copied down as a form of RNA called ___________. This process is called
__________________________________ and it occurs in the ______________________ of cells.
mRNA leaves the nucleus to find a _______________. Next, we start the second part of protein
synthesis called _____________________________ and it happens in the _____________________
of cells. During this process, the ribosome attaches to the strand of mRNA and reads three bases at a
time. These three bases on the mRNA strand are called a ______________. A codon codes for one
____________________. We need these monomers because we are making
_____________________. Now that we have the place to build the protein and the copied instructions
on how to make the protein, the parts (amino acids) need to be brought over to the workbench and placed
in the correct order. The job of ______ is to transfer these amino acids to the correct location. On one
end of the tRNA is the amino acid and the other end contains three bases called the
______________________. The anticodon is the complement to the _______________ on the mRNA
strand. Protein production does not start until the tRNA hits a unique sequence of bases (AUG); this is
called the ____________________________. The tRNA will keep bringing over the amino acids until it
finds one of the three __________________________. Whalah! We have a new chain of amino acids
to start twisting and folding into its final protein shape when it moves through the transportation system
of the cell called __________________and then the packaging plant called the
______________________.
Direction for activity:
Overview: You will need no more than 3 people in your group. One person will play the role of mRNA,
another person will role play the rRNA, and the third person will play the role of tRNA . You will do this
activity twice, so you will switch roles the second time around.

mRNA: Locate the nucleus. There are four different genes; pick one and write the number of the
DNA strand you choose in the space provided. Transcribe your DNA strand on the line provided (on
back). Now take your newly made mRNA back to your group to your rRNA (ribosome).

rRNA: Take the mRNA strand and transcribe it using the genetic code chart. Write down the order
of the amino acids on the space provided. Now, give your transcribed mRNA to your tRNA in your
group.

tRNA: Get a pipe cleaner from the teacher’s desk. Around the room are glass dishes filled with
“amino acids” (beads). Use the transcribed information from your rRNA teammate and build the
protein.
ALL THREE GROUP MEMBERS COME TO THE TEACHERS DESK WITH YOUR PAPERS. I will check the
order of the amino acids for your specified DNA strand. If it is correct, you will switch the roles you
played and do the activity one more time. PUT THE BEADS BACK IN THE CORRECT GLASS JARS!
Round #1
DNA strand # ________
mRNA: ______________________________________________________________________
a.a.: ________________________________________________________________________
stamp
Round #2
DNA strand # ________
mRNA: ______________________________________________________________________
a.a.: ________________________________________________________________________