Paper Transcription & Translation, Study Guides, Projects, Research of Genetics

Download Paper Transcription & Translation and more Study Guides, Projects, Research Genetics in PDF only on Docsity! © 2016 University of Utah Updated August 1, 2019 1 NAME DATE Paper Transcription & Translation Student Instructions Background Cells use the information in genes to build proteins. To do so, they first make an mRNA copy of the gene—a process called transcription. Then they decode the information in the mRNA to build a protein—a process called translation. You will use a paper model to go through the processes of transcription and translation. Prepare Your Materials • Cut out the DNA strips. Match the num- bered ends and tape them together. • Cut out the mRNA strips. Tape the ends together to form one long strand. • Cut out the Protein strip. • Cut out the Transcription Machine and the Translation Machine, then cut along the dotted lines. TRANSCRIPTION Summary: A molecular machine (RNA Polymerase) attaches to a gene and makes a messenger RNA (mRNA) copy. A cell does this: Do this with your model: 1. Transcription machin- ery “unzips” the DNA, temporarily separating the complementary strands. Starting at the END, cut the DNA strip up the middle. After you reach the circled base, stop cutting so that the DNA stays connected at the top. 2. RNA polymerase wraps around the DNA template strand. Put the DNA template strand into the Transcription ma- chine. Slide the Transcription machine to the circled base. 3. RNA polymerase attaches to the template strand. It will read the DNA to build a comple- mentary strand of mRNA. Slide the mRNA strip into the Transcription machine. Line up the ends of the DNA and mRNA strands. TIP: Tape or paper clip the mRNA onto the DNA strip. Your DNA sequence may be different from the one pictured. © 2016 University of Utah Paper Transcription & Translation: Student Instructions 2 NAME DATE A cell does this: Do this with your model: 4. RNA polymerase reads the DNA template strand, adding building blocks to the mRNA strand accord- ing to the rules of comple- mentary base pairing: G (in DNA) pairs with C (in RNA); C pairs with G; T pairs with A; A pairs with U. Starting with the circled DNA base, start writing the compli- mentary bases on the mRNA strand (put one letter in each box). Don't shift the strands and lose your place! 5. RNA Polymerase slides along the DNA template strand, unzipping the DNA and adding bases to the growing mRNA as it goes. Write in the complementary bases, and slide the transcrip- tion machinery as you go. TIP: If you lose your place, go back to the beginning and line up the first mRNA base with the circled DNA base. 6. Genes are typically thousands of bases long. Detach the transcription ma- chine, and set the DNA aside (you may trim any unused bit off the end of the mRNA). You have just transcribed a small piece of an actual gene!! TRANSLATION Summary: The ribosome reads the bases of the mRNA, putting amino acids together to make a protein. A cell does this: Do this with your model: 7. The mRNA attaches to the Ribosome. The ribosome slides along the mRNA until it finds the bases “AUG.” Starting at the beginning of the mRNA strand, scan along until you find the first “AUG.” Circle it. 8. AUG is the “start” sig- nal for building a protein. It establishes the reading frame for building the protein. Along the rest of the mRNA strand, circle the bases in groups of 3. Each group of 3 bases is called a codon.