Download mysterious monster lab protein synthesis (3)

Mysterious Monster Lab
Background Information:
Genes are the units that determine inherited characteristics, such as hair color
and blood type. Genes are the lengths of DNA molecules that determine the
structure of polypeptides (the building blocks of proteins) that our cells make.
The sequence of nucleotides in DNA determines the sequence of amino acids in
polypeptides, and thus the structure of proteins.
In a process called transcription, which takes place in the nucleus of the cell,
messenger RNA (mRNA) reads and copies' the DNA’s nucleotide sequences in the
form of a complementary RNA molecule. Then the mRNA carries this information
in the form of a code to the ribosome, where protein synthesis takes place. The
code, in DNA or mRNA, specifies the order in which the amino acids are joined
together to form a polypeptide. The code words in mRNA, however, are not
directly recognized by the corresponding amino acids. Another type of RNA called
transfer RNA (tRNA) is needed to bring the mRNA and amino acids together. As
the code carried by mRNA is "read" on a ribosome, the proper tRNAs arrive in turn
and give up the amino acids they carry to the growing polypeptide chain. The
process by which the information from the DNA is transferred into the language of
proteins is known as translation.
In this investigation, the student will simulate the mechanism of protein
synthesis and thereby determine the traits inherited by the fictitious organism
called the Mysterious Monster (MM) whose cells contain only one chromosome. Its
chromosome is made up of 6 genes (A, B, C, D, E, and F), each of which is
responsible for a certain trait.
Problem Questions:
1) What is determined by the DNA base sequence on a chromosome?
2) How can the amino acid sequence determine the characteristics of an
organism?
3) If there is a change in the DNA sequence, what are the possible effects?
Procedure:
1) To determine the trait for gene A of your MM, fill in the information in the box
labeled Gene A in the Data Table. Notice the sequence of nucleotides in the
DNA. In the space provided, write the sequence of nucleotides of mRNA that are
complementary to DNA.
2) In order to determine the sequence of amino acids, match each mRNA codon
with the specific amino acid in Figure 1. Using a hyphen (-) to separate each
amino acid number, record this information in the appropriate place in the Data
Table.
3) Using Figure 2, find the trait that matches the amino acid sequence. Record this
information in the appropriate place in the Data Table.
4) Repeat steps 1-3 for the remaining genes. (B through F).
5) Using all of your inherited traits, sketch your MM in the space provided.
The Genetic Code (mRNA)
Mysterious Monster Lab
mRNA Codon
UGG
UCG
GCU
UUG
GCG
CCC
UCC
UUU
AAA
CCA
AUA
GGG
UAG
GAU
CCU
Amino Acid
Number
15
15
14
2
4
3
5
7
8
9
12
13
1
6
10
11
Amino Acid Sequence
Trait
15:11:13
Hairless
15:12:13
Curly Hair
15:12:10
1 Leg
13:14:15
13:2
2 Legs
Tusks (like elephants)
Fangs
12:7:8
5:7:6:3
9:8
9:4
11:3:2
11:3:3
6:6:10
7:7:14
Figure 1
Figure 2
5 Eyes
Warts on Body
Scales (like fish)
Orange Skin
Green Skin
Wings
Protruding Eyes (stick out
of head)
Data Table (I)
Gene A
Gene B
DNA
mRNA
DNA
mRNA
GGA CGC CGA
Amino
Acid
Sequence
Observed
Trait
Amino
Acid
Sequence
Observed
Trait
Gene D
DNA
mRNA
Amino
Acid
Sequence
Observed
Trait
Gene C
AGG AGG AGC
DNA
mRNA
Amino
Acid
Sequence
Observed
Trait
ACC GGA TAT
Amino
Acid
Sequence
Observed
Trait
Gene E
TAT CGA
DNA
mRNA
Gene F
ACC GGT CTA
DNA
mRNA
Amino
Acid
Sequence
Observed
Trait
Mysterious Monster Portrait
TTT AAC
Data Table (II)
Gene A
Gene B
DNA
mRNA
DNA
mRNA
GGA CGC CGC
Amino
Acid
Sequence
Observed
Trait
Amino
Acid
Sequence
Observed
Trait
Gene D
DNA
mRNA
Amino
Acid
Sequence
Observed
Trait
Gene C
GGG AGG ATC CGC
DNA
mRNA
Amino
Acid
Sequence
Observed
Trait
ACC GGA TAT
Amino
Acid
Sequence
Observed
Trait
Gene E
TAT CGA
DNA
mRNA
Gene F
TAT AGC ACC
DNA
mRNA
Amino
Acid
Sequence
Observed
Trait
Mysterious Monster Portrait
TTT AAA
Data Table (III)
Gene A
Gene B
DNA
mRNA
DNA
mRNA
GGA CGC CGA
Amino
Acid
Sequence
Observed
Trait
Amino
Acid
Sequence
Observed
Trait
Gene D
DNA
mRNA
Amino
Acid
Sequence
Observed
Trait
Gene C
GGG AGG ATC CGC
DNA
mRNA
Amino
Acid
Sequence
Observed
Trait
ACC GGT TAT
Amino
Acid
Sequence
Observed
Trait
Gene E
GGT AGG AAA
DNA
mRNA
Gene F
ATC ATC CTA
DNA
mRNA
Amino
Acid
Sequence
Observed
Trait
Mysterious Monster Portrait
TTT AAC
Data Table (IV)
Gene A
Gene B
DNA
mRNA
DNA
mRNA
GGA CGC CGC
Amino
Acid
Sequence
Observed
Trait
Amino
Acid
Sequence
Observed
Trait
Gene D
DNA
mRNA
Amino
Acid
Sequence
Observed
Trait
Gene C
AGG AGG AGC
DNA
mRNA
Amino
Acid
Sequence
Observed
Trait
ACC GGT TAT
Amino
Acid
Sequence
Observed
Trait
Gene E
GGT AGG AAA
DNA
mRNA
Gene F
TAT AGC ACC
DNA
mRNA
Amino
Acid
Sequence
Observed
Trait
Mysterious Monster Portrait
TTT AAA
Name______________________________________________ Period _________
Analysis Questions for Assessment of
Mysterious Monster Lab
ANALYSIS
QUESTIONS:
1. Label the diagram of the DNA nucleotide shown below. Use the terms base, deoxyribose,
and phosphate.
A
2. Give the base sequence of the complementary DNA strand for the strand below
Original DNA strand:
Complementary strand:
TAC - GCC - AGT - GGT - TCG – CAC - ACT
3. Give the base sequence of the strand of mRNA read from the original DNA
strand.
Original DNA strand:
TAC - GCC - AGT - GGT - TCG – CAC - ACT
mRNA (Use U’s no T’s):
4. Using the mRNA codon wheel or chart, give the amino acid sequence of the protein
fragment coded for by this mRNA.
5. If the fourth nucleotide (base) in the original DNA strand were changed from G to C, what
would the base sequence of the resulting mRNA?
Original DNA strand:
TAC - GCC - AGT - GGT - TCG –CAC - ACT
mRNA, after change:
6. What would be the amino add (protein) sequence resulting from this change? (Use codon
chart)
7. If a point mutation in the original DNA strand causes the 6th nucleotide (base) to be
replaced with a G, what would be the mRNA sequence?
Original DNA strand:
new mRNA:
TAC - GCC - AGT - GGT - TCG - CAC - ACT
8. What would the resulting amino acid sequence be? (Use codon chart)
9. If a G were added to the original DNA strand to create a mutation after the third nucleotide
(base), what would be the resulting mRNA sequence?
Original DNA strand:
new mRNA:
G
TAC - GCC - AGT - GGT - TCG - CAC - ACT
10. Why is this type mutation called an insertion?
11. What would be the resulting amino acid sequence following the insertion in #9? (Use
codon chart)
12. If the 8th nucleotide (base) in the original DNA strand were mutated from G to C, what
would be the resulting mRNA sequence?
Original DNA strand:
new mRNA:
TAC - GCC - AGT - GGT - TCG – CAC- ACT
13. What would be the resulting amino acid sequence? (or codon chart)
14. How would this change affect the production of this protein?
15. Use the following terms to label the lettered diagram below:
transcription
replication
translation
DNA — (A) —— >DNA — (B) —— >mRNA —— (C) —— > protein
(A) ________________ (B) ________________ (C) _______________