BiologyStandard IV, Objective 3Title: 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:

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 = waterAUG = Initiator (Start) CCU = subject CGG = everyAAA = Your CGA = drink CGU = dayAAC = mother . . . AAG = wears . . . AAU = dressesACG = funny . . . ACC = have . . . ACU = dog

ACA = breath . . . AGA = the . . . AGG = areAGU = Beatles . . . AGC = best . . . AUA = rockAUC = band . . . AUU = an . . . CAA = oldCAC = rubber . . . CAG = breaks . . . CAU = pulledCCA = when . . . CCC = Biology . . . CUA = ICUC = love . . . CUG = roll . . . CUU = musicGAA = all . . . GAC = demented . . . GAG = puppiesGAU = and . . . GCA = so . . . GCC = muchGCG = fun . . . GCU = education . . . GGA = doorGGC = to . . . GGG = future . . . GGU = fatherGUA = a . . . GUC = dress . . . GUG = brotherGUU = nothing . . . UAA = we . . . UAC = inUAU = this . . . UCA = together . . . UCC = mustUCG = be . . . UCU = informed . . . UGA = aroundUGC = you . . . UGG = read . . . UGU = littleUUA = DNA . . . UUC = code . . . UUG = forUUU = 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. 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

UAGCCGCGCAUGCCUCGG

Stop (period)

IsWater

Initiatior (start)SubjectEveryAAACGA

CGUAACAAGAAU

YourdrinkDay

MotherWears

Dresses

ACGACCACUACA

AGAAGG

FunnyHaveDog

BreathThe

Are

AGUAGCAUAAUCAUUCAA

BeatlesBestRockBandAnOld

CACCAGCAUCCACCCCUA

Rubber

BreaksPulledWhen

BiologyI

CUCCUG

CUUGAAGACGAG

LoveRoll

Music

AllDemented

Puppies

GAUGCAGCCGCG

GCUGGA

AndSo

MuchFun

Education

Door

GGCGGGGGUGUAGUCGUG

ToFutureFather

ADress

Brother

GUUUAAUACUAUUCAUCC

Nothing

WeIn

ThisTogether

Must

UCGUCU

UGAUGCUGGUGU

BeInformedAround

YouReadLittle

UUAUUCUUGUUU

DNACodeForLife