Acknowledgement: This lab has been adapted from a presentation at the 1993 NABT convention in

Boston by Bert and Lynn Marie Wartski, “Biology with Junk: Protein Synthesis and Words.” 1

PROTEIN SYNTHESIS MAKES SENSE!

Anita Gordon

Modified by: Marianne Dobrovolny

Purpose: To help students understand the role of DNA, mRNA, tRNA, and amino acids in the

process of protein synthesis. This activity can also be used to introduce the concept of mutations.

Introduction: Students will use the steps of transcription and translation to assemble a protein

that forms a sentence. Members of groups will use the handout to work through each step of the

process. Group sizes of 2 or 3 work best.

Nucleus: A table (or the floor) in the middle of the room which holds the DNA code cards.

There are 20 different double strands of DNA. The bold stand represents the template

strand and is the one that will be used during transcription. None of the DNA cards can

leave the nucleus. Students will try to take them to their desks; emphasize why they must

transcribe them in the nucleus. The first step is unzipping (un-Velcro) the double strand of

DNA. They must copy the bold DNA template onto the top strand in the nucleus on their

handout. This strand should be labeled “Template DNA”. The students must transcribe the

RNA code from the template stand of DNA onto the bottom strand in the nucleus on their

handout. This strand should be labeled “mRNA” and the process should be labeled

“Transcription.” This entire process should be done while in the area of the nucleus,

because DNA cannot leave the nucleus. Tell them to record the number that is on the DNA

card—it makes checking for accuracy easier later.

Ribosome: The student desks or tables are the ribosomes, this is where they will decode the mRNA

codons to know which tRNA they need to find the correct amino acids (words). The mRNA

molecule should be copied onto the ribosome at the bottom of the handout. The dotted

arrow represents the mRNA molecule leaving the nucleus and combining with a ribosome.

Using the mRNA, they determine the correct anticodon for each on the tRNA’s above the

strand.

tRNA: After they have identified the tRNA anticodons, anticodon cards are distributed around the

perimeter of the room. Each anticodon card has a word on the back. When assembled in the

correct order the sentence will read: “Start—sentence (some silly)—Stop.” If the anticodon

cards are clustered with all those beginning with the same letter in the same part of the

room, students can find the cards quicker.

Report Your Protein: Student groups will read their sentence to the teacher. (It is easiest for you

to check if they tell you the number of the DNA card.) If it is not correct, they have to go

back and begin again to determine when their mutation occurred.

WATCH OUT FOR MUTATIONS!!! If students incorrectly transcribe the DNA or mRNA, then a

mutation will occur and the sentence will not make sense or not be complete.

Materials: 20 DNA template cards

64 Anticodon cards

Students need paper and pencil

Follow up worksheet to check for understanding of the actual process

Acknowledgement: This lab has been adapted from a presentation at the 1993 NABT convention in

Boston by Bert and Lynn Marie Wartski, “Biology with Junk: Protein Synthesis and Words.” 2

Teacher Preparation: • Print the DNA strands on cardstock. Cut the double strand into two pieces. Cut close to the template

DNA and leave room above the complementary strand of DNA as shown by the dotted line on DNA

strand 1.

• Once you have laminated the cards, place pecies of Velcro on the extra space on the complementary

strand. Position the other side of the Velcro on the template strand so that the nitrogen bases of the

two strand lay right next to each other.

• Make tRNA cards with words on back. Make sure the right words on are the back of each anticodon

card. They are made to be run front and back.

• Prepare copies on the handout.

20 Sentences:

1. Who let the dogs out? 11. Education is the door to the future.

2. Designer jeans genes are made from DNA. 12. Who made up the code?

3. Are we having fun yet? 13. Sad movies make me cry.

4. Rock music is the best. 14. We are all in this together!

5. Chocolate chip cookies are the best! 15. We must be informed every day.

6. Biology is the best subject. 16. Rock and roll music is the best!

7. Drink water every day. 17. Biology is all around me.

8. I love rock and roll music. 18. Read a little every day.

9. Mutations make new traits. 19. DNA is the code of life.

10. Biology is so much fun. 20. DNA must be read for life.

Anticodons and the words to write on the back of each one:

AUC = STOP CCG = IS CGC = WATER

UAC = START CCU = SUBJECT CGG = EVERY

AAA = WHO CGA = DRINK CGU = DAY

AAC = FROM AAG = MUTATIONS AAU = SAD

ACG = HAVING ACC = CHIP ACU = CRY

ACA = DESIGNER AGA = THE AGG = ARE

AGU = BEATLES AGC = BEST AUA = ROCK

UAG = OUT AUU = UP CAA = YET

CAC = JEANS GENES CAG = MAKE CAU = TRAITS

CCA = CHOCOLATE CCC = BIOLOGY CUA = I

CUC = LOVE CUG = ROLL CUU = MUSIC

GAA = ALL GAC = MADE GAG = DOGS

GAU = AND GCA = SO GCC = MUCH

GCG = FUN GCU = EDUCATION GGA = DOOR

GGC = TO GGG = FUTURE GGU = COOKIES

GUA = A GUC = NEW GUG = MOVIES

GUU = LET UAA = WE AUG = IN

UAU = THIS UCA = TOGETHER UCC = MUST

UCG = BE UCU = INFORMED UGA = AROUND

UGC = ME UGG = READ UGU = LITTLE

UUA = DNA UUC = CODE UUG = FOR

UUU = LIFE

Acknowledgement: This lab has been adapted from a presentation at the 1993 NABT convention in

Boston by Bert and Lynn Marie Wartski, “Biology with Junk: Protein Synthesis and Words.” 3

DNA template cards:

1. TAC AAA GTT AGA GAG TAG ATC

ATG TTT CAA TCT CTC ATC TAG

2. TAC ACA CAC AGG GAC AAC TTA ATC

ATG TGT GTG TCC CTG TTG AAT TAG

3. TAC AGG TAA ACG GCG CAA ATC

ATG TCC ATT TGC CGC GTT TAG

4. TAC ATA CTT CCG AGA AGC ATC

ATG TAT GAA GGC TCA TCG TAG

5. TAC CCA ACC GGT AGG AGA AGC ATC

ATG GGT TGG CCA TCC TCT TCG TAG

6. TAC CCC CCG AGA AGC CCT ATC

ATG GGG GGC TCT TCG GGA TAG

7. TAC CGA CGC CGG CGT ATC

ATG GCA GCG GCC GCA TAG

8. TAC CTA CTC ATA GAT CTG CTT ATC

ATG GAT GAG TAT CTA GAC GAA TAG

9. TAC AAG CAG GTC CAT ATC

ATG TTC GTC CAG GTA TAG

10. TAC CCC CCG GCA GCC GCG ATC

ATG GGG GGC CGT CGG CGC TAG

11. TAC GCT CCG AGA GGA GGC AGA GGG ATC

ATG CGA GGC TCT CCT CCG TCT CCC TAG

12. TAC AAA GAC ATT AGA TTC ATC

ATG TTT CTG TAA TCT AAG TAG

13. TAC AAT GTG CAG TGC ACT ATC

ATG TTA CAC GTC ACG TGA TAG

14. TAC TAA AGG GAA ATG TAT TCA ATC

ATG ATT TCC CTT TAC ATA AGT TAG

15. TAC TAA TCC TCG TCT CGG CGT ATC

ATG ATT AGG AGC AGA GCC GCA TAG

16. TAC ATA GAT CTG CTT CCG AGA AGC ATC

ATG TAT CTA GAC GAA GGC TCT TCG TAG

17. TAC CCC CCG GAA TGA TGC ATC

ATG GGG GGC CTT ACT ACG TAG

18. TAC TGG GTA TGT CGG CGT ATC

ATG ACC CAT ACA GCC GCA TAG

19. TAC TTA CCG AGA TTC TTG TTT ATC

ATG AAT GGC TCT AAG AAC AAA TAG

20. TAC TTA TCC TCG TGG TTG TTT ATC

ATG AAT AGG AGC ACC AAC AAA TAG

AUC

UAC

AAA

AAC

ACG

ACA

AGU

UAG

FROM

WHO

START

STOP

OUT

BEATLES

DESIGNER

HAVING

CAC

CCA

CUC

GAA

GAU

GCG

GGC

GUA

ALL

LOVE

CHOCOLATE

JEANS GENES

A

TO

FUN

AND

GUU

UAU

UCG

UGC

UUA

UUU

CCG

CCU

ME

BE

THIS

LET

SUBJECT

IS

LIFE

DNA

CGA

AAG

ACC

AGA

AGC

AUU

CAG

CCC

THE

CHIP

MUTATIONS

DRINK

BIOLOGY

MAKE

UP

BEST

CUG

GAC

GCA

GCU

GGG

GUC

UAA

UCA

EDUCATION

SO

MADE

ROLL

TOGETHER

WE

NEW

FUTURE

UCU

UGG

UUC

CGC

CGG

CGU

AAU

ACU

WATER

CODE

READ

INFORMED

CRY

SAD

DAY

EVERY

AGG

AUA

CAA

CAU

CUA

CUU

GAG

GCC

TRAITS

YET

ROCK

ARE

MUCH

DOGS

MUSIC

I

GGA

GGU

GUG

AUG

UCC

UGA

UGU

UUG

IN

MOVIES

COOKIES

DOOR

FOR

LITTLE

AROUND

MUST

1. TAC AAA GTT AGA GAG TAG ATC

ATG TTT CAA TCT CTC ATC TAG

2. TAC ACA CAC AGG GAC AAC TTA ATC

ATG TGT GTG TCC CTG TTG AAT TAG

3. TAC AGG TAA ACG GCG CAA ATC

ATG TCC ATT TGC CGC GTT TAG

4. TAC ATA CTT CCG AGA AGC ATC

ATG TAT GAA GGC TCT TCG TAG

5. TAC CCA ACC GGT AGG AGA AGC ATC

ATG GGT TGG CCA TCC TCT TCG TAG

6. TAC CCC CCG AGA AGC CCT ATC

ATG GGG GGC TCT TCG GGA TAG

7. TAC CGA CGC CGG CGT ATC

ATG GCT GCG GCC GCA TAG

8. TAC CTA CTC ATA GAT CTG CTT ATC

ATG GAT GAGTAT CTA GAC GAA TAG

9. TAC AAG CAG GTC CAT ATC

ATG TTC GTC CAG GTA TAG

10. TAC CCC CCG GCA GCC GCG ATC

ATG GGG GGC CGT CGG CGC TAG

11. TAC GCT CCG AGA GGA GGC AGA GGG ATC

ATG CGA GGC TCT CCT CCG TCT CCC TAG

12. TAC AAA GAC ATT AGA TTC ATC

ATG TTT CTG TAA TCT AAG TAG

13. TAC AAT GTG CAG TGC ACT ATC

ATG TTA CAC GTC ACG TGA TAG

14. TAC TAA AGG GAA ATG TAT TCA ATC

ATG ATT TCC CTT TAC ATA AGT TAG

15. TAC TAA TCC TCG TCT CGG CGT ATC

ATG ATT AGGAGC AGA GCC GCA TAG

16. TAC ATA GAT CTG CTT CCG AGA AGC ATC

ATG TAT CTA GAC GAA GGCTCT TCG TAG

17. TAC CCC CCG GAA TGA TGC ATC

ATG GGG GGC CTT ACT ACG TAG

18. TAC TGG GTA TGT CGG CGT ATC

ATG ACC CAT ACA GCC GCA TAG

19. TAC TTA CCG AGA TTC TTG TTT ATC

ATG AAT GGC TCT AAG AAC AAATAG

20. TAC TTA TCC TCG TGG TTG TTT ATC

ATG AAT AGGAGC ACC AAC AAA TAG