Download How does DNA determine the traits of organisms?

Essential Question 3: How does DNA code for proteins and what does it have to do with how my body works?
Hr _____
Name _______________________
Snork A
How does DNA determine the traits of organisms?
(A review of transcription and translation)
Introduction
In this assessment, you will examine the DNA sequence of a fictitious organism: the Snork!
Snorks were discovered on the planet “Dee Enae” in a distant solar system. Snorks have only
one chromosome with 7 genes on it. Your job is to analyze the genes of its DNA and determine
what traits the organism has.
Snork DNA and traits
You will use the following data table to help you determine the traits that Snorks have.
mRNA triplet
(codon)
UGG
UCG
GCU
UUG
GCG
CCC
UCC
UUU
AAA
CCA
AUA
GGG
UAG
GAU
CCU
Amino Acid
number
20
16
2
4
3
5
7
8
9
12
13
1
6
10
11
Amino Acid
Sequence
20-11-13
20-12-13
20-12-12
13-14-15
16-2-5
16-4-5
12-7-8
5-7-8
9-8-8
9-4-8
11-3-2
11-3-3
6-6-10
6-6-14
Trait
Hairless
Hairy
Plump
Skinny
4 legged
2 legged
Round head
Block head
No tail
Tail
Slanted eyes
Wide round eyes
Male
Female
Observations and Analysis of Snork DNA
You are given a chromosome from a Snork with the following sequence. Each gene has only 3
amino acids. Your job is to determine the sequence of amino acids for your specimen. Write
the complimentary mRNA, tRNA, and the amino acid (A.A.) sequence it codes for and the
related trait in the chart on the next page.
DNA
ACCGGTTAT / AGCCGAGGG / TTTAACAAA / GGACGCCGA / GGGAGGAAA / ATCATCCTA / ACCGGTGGT
mRNA
(codon)
tRNA
(anticodon)
A.A sequence
(amino acid)
Trait
Draw your Snork in the space below. You must include the traits you determined from the DNA sequence, but you may
add more…be creative! Color your Snork. And finally, you should name your Snork to indicate the gender!
Do you know your facts??
1. What part of this assessment/simulation represents transcription and what molecules
are involved?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. What part of this assessment/simulation represents translation and what molecules
are involved?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. In an actual cell:
a. where does transcription take place? ______________________________
b. where does translation take place? _______________________________
4. Compare the following chromosome sequence – GGACGCCGC - to the sequence of the
4th chromosome sequence of your Snork. What is the difference? What is this
difference most likely due to? How would this difference affect the Snork?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
5. In the space below, create a T-chart to compare the structure and function of DNA
and RNA.