Protein Synthesis, Transcription, and Translation

Biology: Genetics - Protein Synthesis

Activity 16 Overview: Transcription and Translation

• This activity focuses on protein synthesis, specifically transcription and translation.
• It is designed for students in the Science and Global Issues SEPUP course.

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Important Dates and Reminders

• Missing work, late work, revised work, and retakes must be submitted by Friday, June 6.
• No school on Monday, May 26, and Tuesday, May 27.
• Field Day is on Friday, June 6.
• Finals Week is from Tuesday, June 10, to Thursday, June 12 (senior finals the week before).

Opener Activity

• Share a positive thought.
• Review how to copy one strand of DNA to create a complementary strand.
• Glue handouts into the lab notebook and get colored pencils.

Learning Objectives

• Understand how a cell uses DNA information to create proteins.
• Define transcription and identify its location within the cell.
• Define translation and identify its location within the cell.
• Explain how transcription and translation utilize DNA information to produce proteins.

Get Started - Corn Cell Comparison

• Compare a genetically modified corn cell (containing the Bt gene) with a non-modified corn cell.
• Consider similarities and differences between the cells.

Introduction to Protein Synthesis

• Protein synthesis is the process by which a cell creates a protein.
• It consists of two main phases: transcription and translation.
• Transcription: DNA is converted into mRNA.
• Translation: mRNA is converted into tRNA, and a protein molecule is assembled.

Analysis Questions

1. How would you describe the structure of DNA to a 10-year-old?

2. What nucleotide sequence would bond with the following strand? 5' ATCGCC 3'

3. Arrange the following cell structures from smallest to largest: DNA, chromosomes, gene, cell.

4. The table below shows the number of base pairs in the DNA of selected organisms. From the data in the table, what can you say about the amount of DNA contained in the cells of these three organisms?

   • E. Coli: 4.7 million
   • Corn (Zea Mays): 2.5 billion
   • Human (Homo sapiens): 3.3 billion

Key Cell Structures

• Nucleus
• Cell
• Chromosome
• Telomere
• Centromere
• Chromatids
• Nucleosomes
• Base Pairs
• Histones
• Gene
• DNA

Challenge Question

• How many types of nucleic acids are there in cells?
• What is the relationship between DNA and proteins in a cell?
• What monomers are used to build a protein?
• How does a cell make proteins using the information from DNA?

Central Dogma of Biology

• Central Dogma of Biology: DNA → RNA → Protein
• Transcription: DNA is used as a template to make RNA.
• Translation: RNA is used as a template to make proteins.
• Proteins are utilized by the organism (e.g., enzymes in the digestive system).

Cell Structure Analogy

DNA vs RNA

• DNA pairs with Thymine (T), whereas RNA pairs with Uracil (U).

DNA and RNA Nucleotide Structure

• RNA Nucleotide:
  • Phosphate Group
  • Pentose Sugar (Ribose)
  • Nitrogenous Base (A, C, G, U)
• DNA Nucleotide:
  • Phosphate Group
  • Pentose Sugar (Deoxyribose)
  • Nitrogenous Base (A, C, G, T)

DNA vs mRNA

Amino Acids

• Amino acids are the monomers that build proteins.
• Each amino acid has a unique structure and properties (e.g., non-polar, polar, basic, acidic).

Amino Acid Names and Codes

• Each amino acid has a three-letter code and a single-letter code.

Transcription and Translation Practice

• Genetic codes are always read from 5' to 3'.
• Steps to figure out secret messages:
  1. Use the DNA code to figure out the mRNA code.
  2. Use the mRNA code to figure out the three-letter amino acid code.
  3. Change the three-letter amino acid code to a one-letter code using the table.
  4. Write your own code by working BACKWARDS, steps 3-1.

Mutation Types

• Base Insertion (Frameshift): One nucleotide is inserted into the DNA sequence.
• Base Deletion (Frameshift): One nucleotide is deleted from the DNA sequence.
• Substitution: One nucleotide is substituted for a different nucleotide.
• Three-Base Insertion: Three nucleotides are added to the DNA sequence.

Mutation Comparison Table

Follow Up Questions

• Based on your work in Part B, how would you respond to the claim, “DNA mutations cause damaged proteins”?
• Describe the relationship between DNA structure, proteins, and gene therapy.
  • What are some possible benefits of gene therapy?
  • What are some ethical concerns with gene therapy?

Future of Gene Editing - CRISPR-Cas9

• Refers to CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing.

Read, Think, and Take Note Guidelines

• Explain a thought or reaction to something you read.
• Note something in the reading that is confusing or unfamiliar.
• List a word that you do not know.
• Describe a connection to something you learned or read previously.
• Make a statement about the reading.
• Pose a question about the reading.
• Draw a diagram or picture of an idea or connection.

Make a Cartoon Describing the Central Dogma

• Include the following terms in your cartoon:
  • DNA
  • Nucleus
  • Cytoplasm
  • tRNA
  • Ribosome
  • Protein
  • mRNA
  • Amino Acids
  • Nucleotide Base Pairs
  • Transcription
  • Translation
  • RNA Polymerase