Download LEGO PROTEIN SYNTHESIS (25 pts)

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LEGO PROTEIN SYNTHESIS (25 pts)
PURPOSE: Your cells come in all shapes and sizes. Different types of cell make different proteins
according to the jobs they have to do. For example, only red blood cells contain the protein hemoglobin
which carries oxygen around your body. Similarly, only cells in your eyes make proteins for detecting light.
As well as these 'specialized' proteins, almost all your cells share a common set of 'housekeeping' proteins.
I know that you must be wondering……How do cells decide which proteins to make?
Almost all your cells have the same set of genes (DNA). These carry instructions for making every
protein in your body. But any particular cell uses only a selected set of those genes; if a gene is 'switched
off', no protein will be made from that gene. Mechanisms for switching genes on and off are crucial to the
functioning of every cell. The process of protein production requires multiple steps. Each of these steps
requires signals from outside and from within the cell. The first step is for chemicals outside the cell to call
for a need for a particular protein. The chemical signals travel to the nucleus, where the gene containing
the instructions to make the cell is transcribed into a messenger RNA sequence (mRNA). The mRNA
leaves the nucleus and travels to the ribosome. The ribosome signals the tRNA to bring the correct amino
acid to the ribosome so the protein can be built from the amino acids.
OBJECTIVE: To understand that different cells build various proteins because they use different genes of the
same DNA molecule.
PRE-LAB QUESTIONS:
Use your notes to answer the following questions:
1. If you were looking for DNA in a eukaryotic cell, where would you go to find it?
2. What is transcription
3. Where does transcription occur?
4. What are the DNA-RNA base-pairing rules?
5. What is the name of the 3 nucleotide segments of mRNA?
6. Which organelle is responsible for making proteins?
7. What is translation?
8. Where does translation occur?
9. During translation, what pairs up with the mRNA codons?
10. What do tRNA’s carry to the ribosome, and what do they form as they link up to form a chain?
MATERIALS:
Posted at the front of the classroom:
 Lego DNA Code

Various Colored Lego Blocks
At each Lab Station
 Lego “protein” recipe

Lego genetic code
PROCEDURE:
1. Write your cell type on your data sheet.
2. Each student should copy your cell “recipe” onto your data sheet.
3. One person goes to the front of the classroom and copies the genes you will use onto your data sheet
4. Transcribe the DNA nucleotides into RNA nucleotides on your data sheet.
5. Translate the RNA codons into the correct Lego colored blocks.
6. One or more people in your group will go to the front lab station and get the correct Lego blocks
needed to build your Lego polypeptide chain.
7. Draw and color your Lego polypeptide chain, and then answer the analysis questions.
8. Check your Lego protein with your teacher
LEGO Protein Synthesis Data Sheet
Cell Type: ______________________
Recipe
DNA
mRNA
tRNA
blocks
Recipe
DNA
mRNA
tRNA
blocks
Protein Model (Color)
Questions:
What does each of the following represent in a REAL CELL?

Front of the classroom: ____________________________________________

Front table with the blocks:_________________________________________

Lego blocks: _____________________________________________________

Lego tower:______________________________________________________

The person in your group building the tower: _________________________

The person(s) in your group getting the blocks:________________________

The person in your group copying the genes from the front of the class
onto his/her paper: _______________________________________________
Look at all the Lego towers made by the different groups:
2.
How are they similar? __________________________________________
3.
How are they different? ________________________________________
4.
Do different cells (liver, nerve, bone, etc.) have the same DNA? ________
5.
Why do these different cells have different protein if they have same DNA?
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6.
How does this activity relate to protein synthesis and the enormous amounts
of different proteins made by organisms
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7. Summarize what you have learned about the process Protein Synthesis?
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