Download Making Sentences with DNA

Biology
Standard IV, Objective 3
Title: Making Sentences of DNA
Description: In this activity students will model protein synthesis using sentences for
DNA/RNA codes and words for amino acids. They will transcribe and translate the DNA
into a sentence.
Materials:
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20 DNA Template Cards: these will be kept on your desk (the “nucleus”) at all
times. After all, DNA cannot leave the nucleus.
64 Anti-Codon Cards: These will be taped to the wall around your room.
Paper: to write down the mRNA strand and the tRNA molecules and the
sentence.
Pen/Pencil
Procedures for the Teacher:
1. Make up all the DNA Template Cards and the Anti-codon/word cards—See
below for instructions.
2. Hang up the Anti-codon word cards, so the anti-codons are showing.
3. Show the student the cards and tell them what they are.
4. Tell the students that your desk is the nucleus and the DNA templates cannot
leave the area.
5. A student is to pick up a DNA template card, write down the DNA template card
number, and transcribe it into mRNA.
6. With the mRNA sequence, s/he will go back to the group’s desk and the
ribosomal student will write out the tRNA anti-codon sequence.
7. The tRNA student will search out the correct anti-codon card and flip the card
over revealing the word. S/he will write down the word.
8. After completing the sentence, a student in the group will tell you his/her group
sentence. If not correct, have the group go over the same DNA template. If
correct, have the students pick another card. To make a contest, see which
group can do the most sentences.
Note: Students may work alone or in groups (it is better to assign one student to be the
mRNA, another student to write down the anticodons (ribosome) and the third student to
search out the proper words (tRNA). Every sentence must have a start (ATG) and a
stop (TAG) codon.
Keys for making cards: *Key to tRNA Cards with Words (Note: write the anticodon on
one side of the card, and write the word on the other):
UAG = Stop (period) CCG = is CGC = water
AUG = Initiator (Start) CCU = subject CGG = every
AAA = Your CGA = drink CGU = day
AAC = mother . . . AAG = wears . . . AAU = dresses
ACG = funny . . . ACC = have . . . ACU = dog
ACA = breath . . . AGA = the . . . AGG = are
AGU = Beatles . . . AGC = best . . . AUA = rock
AUC = band . . . AUU = an . . . CAA = old
CAC = rubber . . . CAG = breaks . . . CAU = pulled
CCA = when . . . CCC = Biology . . . CUA = I
CUC = love . . . CUG = roll . . . CUU = music
GAA = all . . . GAC = demented . . . GAG = puppies
GAU = and . . . GCA = so . . . GCC = much
GCG = fun . . . GCU = education . . . GGA = door
GGC = to . . . GGG = future . . . GGU = father
GUA = a . . . GUC = dress . . . GUG = brother
GUU = nothing . . . UAA = we . . . UAC = in
UAU = this . . . UCA = together . . . UCC = must
UCG = be . . . UCU = informed . . . UGA = around
UGC = you . . . UGG = read . . . UGU = little
UUA = DNA . . . UUC = code . . . UUG = for
UUU = life
*Key to DNA Fragments (write these sequences on cards):
1. ATGAAAAACAAGGTACACATCTAG
2. ATGAAAAACAATTGCACGTAG
3. ATGTAAACCACTACATAG
4. ATGAGAAGTAGGAGAAGCATAATCTAG
5. ATGATTCAACACATCCAGCCACATTAG
6. ATGCCCCCGAGAAGCCCTTAG
7. ATGCGACGCCGGCGTTAG
8. ATGCTACTCATAGATCTGCTTTAG
9. ATGTAAAGGGAAGACGAGTAG
10. ATGCCCCCGGCAGCCGCGTAG
11. ATGGCTCCGAGAGGAGGCAGAGGGTAG
12. ATGAAAGGTAAGGTAGTCTAG
13. ATGAAAGTGAAGGTTTAG
14. ATGTAAAGGGAATACTATTCATAG
15. ATGTAATCCTCGTCTCGGCGTTAG
16. ATGATAGATCTGCTTCCGAGAAGCTAG
17. ATGCCCCCGGAATGATGCTAG
18. ATGTGGGTATGTCGGCGTTAG
19. ATGTTACCGAGATTCTTGTTTTAG
20. ATGTTATCCTCGTGGTTGTTTTAG
1. Key for the sentences *20 Sentences: Your mother wears a rubber band.
2. Your mother dresses you funny.
3. We have dog breath.
4. The Beatles are the best rock band.
5. An old rubber band breaks when pulled.
6. Biology is the best subject.
7. Drink water every day.
8. I love rock and roll music.
9. We are all demented puppies.
10. Biology is so much fun.
11. Education is the door to the future.
12. Your father wears a dress.
13. Your brother wears nothing.
14. We are all in this together.
15. We must be informed every day.
16. Rock and roll music is the best.
17. Biology is all around you.
18. Read a little every day.
19. DNA is the code of life.
20. DNA must be read for life.
Scoring Guide
1. Students complete at least 5 sentences correctly…………………4
2. Student answer analysis questions correctly……………………….4
1. Answers will vary. 2. A mutation 3. DNA carries genetic information from
individual to individual and codes rRNA , mRNA carries DNA code to ribosome to code
tRNA, tRNA line correct amino acids up to form protein molecules.
Student Sheet
Name__________________________
Title: Making Sentences of DNA
Introduction: The instructions coded in DNA must be read and turned into protein
molecules for the cell to carry out the instructions. In this activity you will model this
process using sentences for DNA and RNA and words for amino acids. The words
must line up in the correct order for the protein to form properly, just like words in a
sentence must line up. Good luck!
Instructions:
1. Send one student to the teachers’ desk with a piece of paper. This student must
write down the DNA template card number, and transcribe it into mRNA.
2. With the mRNA sequence, s/he will go back to the group’s desk and the ribosomal
student (rRNA) will write out the tRNA anti-codon sequence.
3. The tRNA student will search out the correct anti-codon card on the wall and flip the
card over revealing the word. S/he will write down the words in the sequence specified
on the mRNA.
4. After completing the sentence, send a student in the group to check with your
teacher to see if his/her group sentence is correct. If not correct, have the group go over
the same DNA template. If correct, pick another card and build another “protein”.
Complete at least 5 sentences and continue if you have time.
Data:
Sentence
number
Sentence
Analysis:
1. Where was it easiest to make a mistake?
2. What is a mistake a model of? (they do happen in nature)
3. Describe the role of:
DNA
mRNA
rRNA
tRNA
4. How do proteins “tell” a cell what to do?
Conclusion:
1. ATGAAAAACAA
GGTACACATCTAG
2. ATGAAAAACAA
TTGCACGTAG
3. ATGTAAACCACT
ACATAG
4. ATGAGAAGTAG
GAGAAGCATAATC
TAG
5. ATGATTCAACAC
ATCCAGCCACATT
AG
6. ATGCCCCCGAGA
AGCCCTTAG
7. ATGCGACGCCGG
CGTTAG
8. ATGCTACTCATA
GATCTGCTTTAG
9. ATGTAAAGGGA
AGACGAGTAG
10. ATGCCCCCGGC
AGCCGCGTAG
11. ATGGCTCCGAG
AGGAGGCAGAGGG
TAG
12. ATGAAAGGTA
AGGTAGTCTAG
13. ATGAAAGTGA
AGGTTTAG
14. ATGTAAAGGG
AATACTATTCATA
G
15. ATGTAATCCTC
GTCTCGGCGTTAG
16. ATGATAGATC
TGCTTCCGAGAAG
CTAG
17. ATGCCCCCGGA
ATGATGCTAG
18. ATGTGGGTAT
GTCGGCGTTAG
19. ATGTTACCGAG
ATTCTTGTTTTAG
20. ATGTTATCCTC
GTGGTTGTTTTAG
UAG
CCG
CGC
AUG
CCU
CGG
Stop (period)
Is
Water
Initiatior
(start)
Subject
Every
AAA
CGA
CGU
AAC
AAG
AAU
Your
drink
Day
Mother
Wears
Dresses
ACG
ACC
ACU
ACA
AGA
AGG
Funny
Have
Dog
Breath
The
Are
AGU
AGC
AUA
AUC
AUU
CAA
Beatles
Best
Rock
Band
An
Old
CAC
CAG
CAU
CCA
CCC
CUA
Rubber
Breaks
Pulled
When
Biology
I
CUC
CUG
CUU
GAA
GAC
GAG
Love
Roll
Music
All
Demented
Puppies
GAU
GCA
GCC
GCG
GCU
GGA
And
So
Much
Fun
Education
Door
GGC
GGG
GGU
GUA
GUC
GUG
To
Future
Father
A
Dress
Brother
GUU
UAA
UAC
UAU
UCA
UCC
Nothing
We
In
This
Together
Must
UCG
UCU
UGA
UGC
UGG
UGU
Be
Informed
Around
You
Read
Little
UUA
UUC
UUG
UUU
DNA
Code
For
Life