Download 12 RNA Activity

Based on “Tagging a Microbe” From Deep Earth Academy Edited and adapted by Cynthia Joseph, Center for Dark Energy Biosphere Investigations Materials: 2 – 8x2 Lego bricks—any color 4 – 4x2 Lego bricks—any color 10 red 1x2 Lego bricks 10 blue 1x2 Lego bricks 10 black 1x2 Lego bricks 10 yellow 1x2 Lego bricks 1 1x1 Lego bricks try to find ones with an “eye” or perhaps you can paint with fluorescent paint Masking tape Marker or pen Vocabulary: DNA RNA polymerase rRNA, Ribosome Protein-­‐-­‐ FISH—Fluorescence In-­‐Situ Hybridization. Used to tag or identify microbes with a probe and fluorescent dye called fluorescent flurochrome. This dye lights up when viewed under a special microscope. KEY: Adenine (red brick) binds with Uracil (yellow brick) Guanine (black brink) binds with Cytosine (blue brick) 8 x 2 Legos are the rRNA backbone 4 x 2 Legos are the Probe backbone What you do First we build 1. Break into small groups (2-­‐3) and select a bag of Legos. 2. Choose a bacteria ribosomal RNA sequence to make: a. Bacteria 1: UAGAAACC b. Bacteria 2: AACCAUCC c. Bacteria 3: ACAGGUCA 3.
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d. Bacteria 4: AUAUCACC Use the Key to build the RNA sequence on the rRNA backbone Now, let’s create the other half of the RNA. Take the RNA sequence above and use the key to figure out what bricks to place on this other rRNA backbone What is the process of making RNA from DNA called? DNA, RNA polymerase, rRNA, Ribosome, Protein, FISH 1.
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Now we tag (just like the scientist) Build all 4 of the probes on a probe backbone using the Key to guide you. a. Probe α: CCU b. Probe β: AUA c. Probe γ: CUA d. Probe δ: AUG Use the tape and marker to label the probes Question: How are you going to figure out which probe goes on your bacteria? Place the fluorescent tag on the probe backbone that you think will work Attach your probe backbone on top of the bacteria bases. What problems did you have to solve to attach it? Did it attach the way you thought it would? Question: Why would scientists want to tag certain microbes using rRNA sequences? What you could do Elementary applications: While this is primarily an extension activity for you, it also provides a concrete way to introduce to students the concept that small things that we can’t see, create big things that we can see. In the physical sciences in 5th grade, students are exposed to the atom which builds the molecule. In the life sciences in 5th grade, the thrust is structures for respiration, digestion, waste disposal and transport. All of those structures are based on DNA. What else could Legos represent for your students? Middle School applications: The building of the RNA sequence links directly to 7th grade Life Science and 8th grade Chemistry of Living Systems. The splitting and tagging is an extension offering information about how scientists use DNA/RNA to identify species. Link to CA Standards Genetics: Grade 7, 2e Investigation & experimentation: Grade 6, 7b; Grade 7, 7a Chemistry of Living Systems: Grade 8, 6c High School applications: While the connection to the central dogma of Biological sciences that outlines the flow of information from transcription of RNA to translation of proteins is obvious, this could also be used in conjunction with microbial processes to teach Biochemistry as well. This exercise teaches a piece of that process that could provide a foundational experience for advanced learning. Link to CA Standards Biology: Cell Biology: 1 c & d Genetics: 4 a; 5 a, b, c Evolution 8 f Chemistry: Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry: 10a & c Resources: http://www.cod.edu/people/faculty/fancher/prokeuk.htm http://highered.mcgraw-­‐
hill.com/sites/9834092339/student_view0/chapter15/processing_of_gene_information__prok
aryotes_vs__eukaryotes.html This site for a McGraw/Hill Biology textbook animates and compares the process for eukaryote and prokaryote cells in DNA transcription to RNA and RNA translation protein. http://www.arb-­‐silva.de/fish-­‐probes/#c153 This talks about probes and uses the rRNA terminology. I need to further study this. http://www.rpi.edu/dept/chem-­‐eng/Biotech-­‐Environ/Projects00/rdna/rdna.html Check this out—rDNA is not ribosomal DNA…need more info!!