Download Web Quest: DNA Genetics

DNA WEBQUEST
This web quest takes you through various websites to better understand the role DNA plays in life. Use the
following questions and directions to navigate through the sites. Record the information to the questions as you
find it. If you download this assignment from Mr. Hathaway’s class website, you do not have to type in web
addresses.
Topic: DNA introduction
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/dna/builddna/
Simply build a DNA molecule with the interactive animation. Stop when it says how long it takes you to
make a DNA molecule of a human being at the rate you are progressing.
Read the text below and answer the following questions:
1. In order to speed up the copying process (replication), DNA replication begins at ___________
locations along each chromosome.
2. The two DNA strands are pulled apart and copied in both directions at the rate of about
_________ nucleotides per second.
3. _______________________ base-pairing ensures that DNA strands are copied accurately,
with just a few errors for each round of replication.
Topic: DNA structure
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/tour/
This is a basic tour of genetics. Click on “What is DNA?” and then answer these questions as you click
along either “next” or “previous” on the bottom of display panel of the presentation.
1. What part of a cell are the instructions for a living organism found?
_______________
2. What is the name of molecule where these instructions are encoded on?
_________________________________________
3. What is the shape of DNA called?
_______________________
4. What two molecules make up the sides or “backbone” of the DNA molecule?
______________________ + ______________________ .
5. What matches with T: ______ , and ______ matches with G:
6. Write the names of the nitrogen bases below:
T: _________________________
A: _________________________
C: _________________________
G: _________________________
7. What do genes tell/instruct the cell to make? ____________________
Topic: DNA replication, transcription and translation
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/tryit/dna/#
Click: DNA Workshop activity (halfway down on the left). Click the DNA Replication box at the top left
and then click “unzip.” Read the script, answer the questions below, and then, click “OK”.
1. In a real cell, what does the DNA molecule do before it unzips? _____________________
2. What molecules break the rungs (bases) apart? ________________________
Drag the correct bases over to “synthesize” the new DNA halves.
Read script, answer questions, and then click “OK”.
3. What is the matching sequence you created?
C
A
T
G
G
G
C
T
C
C
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
4. How many base pairs are in the real human genome? ____________________________
Click “protein synthesis” (upper right). Click “upzip”. This is where you will transcribe DNA to RNA,
have a ribosome read a ‘Codon’ from the RNA and put amino acids together to form a protein in a process
called translation.
Base pair the nucleotides for just one half of the DNA. Read the script, answer the questions, and click
“OK”.
5. About how many bases would a real mRNA molecule have? ____________________
6. What is mRNA short for? _______________________________
7. Where does the mRNA go now? ____________________________________________
8. What does the mRNA attach to? ___________________________________________
When you transcribe DNA into an RNA molecule did you notice there is no Thymine in RNA? There is a
different nitrogen base called Uracil which is symbolized by the letter “U.” RNA is single stranded
instead of double like DNA and is active outside of the nucleus.
Follow directions and match up the codons of messenger RNA “mRNA” with anti-codons of transfer RNA
“tRNA”. They are complementary A with U and G with C.
9. What are the three amino acids you strung together for the protein (“polypeptide chain”)?
___________________ & __________________ & _____________________
10. How long will a real polypeptide chain get to be? ___________________________________
11. When does translation of the mRNA end? ________________________________________
Topic: Protein Synthesis
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/molecules/transcribe/
Click the button that says “click here to begin”
Use the keyboard to type the bases that would form the mRNA. Follow the instructions to determine
the order of the amino acids.
1. List the order of your amino acids.
2. How did the process know to end?
Read the script on the right side of the webpage.
3. Describe the process of transcription.
4. Describe the process of translation.