| PROTEIN SYNTHESIS
Activity #1: Why is this mouse glowing? Take a look at the picture on page 224-225. 1) Why would someone want to make a mouse glow? 2) How could someone create a glowing mouse? Activity #2: Transcription DNA carries the instructions for protein synthesis in the form of a code, which consists of the order of sequence of its nitrogen base pairs. Protein synthesis occurs in the ribosome. Since DNA can�t leave the nucleus, it passes the code by means of a process called transcription. In Transcription, a strand of DNA acts as a pattern for the manufacture of messenger RNA or mRNA. 1) How are RNA and DNA different? RNA consists of 4 types of nucleotides. What are they? Are they the same as DNA? 2) Name 3 ways that replication is different than transcription. When does transcription begin? When would it end? 3) What is the final result of transcription? 4) What happens to the new mRNA in eukaryotic cells like us? What�s a pre-mRNA? 5) What�s the difference between introns and extrons? What�s so darn important about them? Once these new bases are assembled in order according to the DNA base code, they form the single stand messenger RNA molecule. It is then able to leave the nucleus of the cell and proceed to the ribosomes of the DNA molecule, which is served as the template, just zip back together again. 6) If the DNA strand looked like this: 5� GCCTAT 3� 3� CGGATA 5� What would the mRNA look like? Show this to Mr. Liao before you go on! Activity #3: Translation (Making Proteins) Another kind of RNA, TRANSFER RNA (tRNA), is present in the cytoplasm. In addition, the cytoplasm contains 20 different kinds of amino acids! There is one tRNA for each kind of amino acid. 1) Take a closer look at what a tRNA looks like. Figure 8.15, pg 245. 2) What are the two main components of a tRNA? 3) What is the �ANTICODON�? 4) What is the �CODON�? 5) Why is the anticodon so important to the tRNA? |