Biology Lab

RNA and Protein Synthesis
Background
Vocabulary: amino acid, anticodon, codon, gene, messenger RNA, nucleotide, ribosome, RNA, RNA polymerase, transcription, transfer RNA, translation.
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo)
1. Complete Table 1 by placing check marks in the appropriate cells (15 marks) Note: If necessary, you may use more than one check mark per line.
Table 1 A Comparison of Replication, Transcription and Translation
    Statement
    Replication
    Transcription
    Translation
    Occurs in the cytoplasm
    
    
    
    Occurs in the nucleus
    
    
    
    Requires RNA polymerase
    
    
    
    Occurs within a ribosomal complex
    
    
    
    Produces single stranded mRNA
    
    
    
    Requires DNA polymerase
    
    
    
    Requires ligase
    
    
    
    Requires amino acids
    
    
    
    Requires primase
    
    
    
    Uses tRNA
    
    
    
    Produces double stranded DNA
    
    
    
    Requires DNA template
    
    
    
    Produces polypeptides
    
    
    
    Occurs during ‘S’ phase of the cell cycle
    
    
    
    Occurs during ‘G1’ or ‘G2’ of the cell cycle
    
    
    
(
Page
11
of 8
)
RNA and Protein Synthesis
2. Why is DNA replication called ‘semi-conservative’ (1 mark)
In the replication process, the resultant double helix is composed of both a new and an old strand.
3. Suppose you want to design and build a house. How would you communicate your design plans with the construction crew that would work on the house? (1 mark)
I would design the structure and design of the house and would communicate the copies of design plan to the construction crew in form of instructions.
4. Cells build large, complicated molecules, such as proteins. What do you think cells use as their “design plans” for proteins? (1 mark)
Cells use the instructions encoded in DNA, as design plans for synthesis of proteins.
Gizmo Warm-up
Just as a construction crew uses blueprints to build a house, a cell uses DNA as plans for building proteins. In addition to DNA, another nucleic
acid, called RNA is involved in making proteins. In the RNA and Protein Synthesis GizmoTM, you will use both DNA and RNA to construct a protein out of amino acids.
1. DNA is composed of the bases adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T). RNA is composed of adenine, cytosine, guanine, and uracil (U).
Look at the simulation pane. Is the shown molecule DNA or RNA? How do you know? (1 mark)
Shown Molecule is DNA due to presence of Thymine and absence of Uracil.
RNA and Protein Synthesis
2. RNA polymerase is a type of enzyme, Enzymes help chemical reactions occur quickly. Click the Release Enzyme button, and describe what happens. (1 mark)
Two strands of DNA will be separated.
Activity A: Transcription
Get the Gizmo Ready:
If necessary, click Release enzyme.
Introduction: The first stage of building a protein involves...