8.10 CHNOPS Lab Organism 7

CHNOPS Lab
Constructing a Model of Protein Synthesis
Name ______________________________________ Date _______________ Hour _________
PRE-LAB DISCUSSION
Genes are the units that determine inherited characteristics, such as hair color and blood type. Genes
are lengths of DNA molecules that determine the structure of polypeptides (the building blocks of proteins)
that our cells make. The sequence of nucleotides in DNA determines the sequence of amino acids in
polypeptides, and thus the structure of proteins.
In a process called transcription, which takes place in the nucleus of the cell, messenger RNA
(mRNA) reads and copies the DNA’s nucleotide sequences in the form of a complementary RNA molecule.
Then the mRNA carries this information in the form of a code to the ribosomes, where protein synthesis takes
place. The code, in DNA or mRNA, specifies the order in which the amino acids are joined together to form a
polypeptide. The code words in mRNA, however, are not directly recognized by the corresponding amino
acids. Another type of RNA called transfer RNA (tRNA) is needed to bring the mRNA and amino acids
together. As the code carried by mRNA is “read” on a ribosome, the proper tRNAs arrive in turn and give up
the amino acids they carry to the growing polypeptide chain. The process by which the information from
DNA is transferred into the language of proteins is known as translation.
In this investigation, you will simulate the mechanism of protein synthesis and thereby determine the
traits inherited by fictitious organisms called CHNOPS. CHNOPS, whose cells contain only one
chromosome, are members of the kingdom Animalia. A CHNOPS chromosome is made up of eight genes (A,
B, C, D, E, F, G and H), each of which is responsible for a certain trait.
PROCEDURE
1. To determine the trait for Gene A of your CHNOPS, first you must transcribe the DNA into mRNA.
2. Then, you must write the nucleotides of tRNA that are complementary to mRNA.
3. Use the chart in Figure 1 to find the corresponding amino acid sequence. Remember to use the mRNA
sequence and not the tRNA sequence in this chart!
4. Using figure 2, find the trait that matches the amino acid sequence. To save space, you may abbreviate
each amino acid. Record this information in the appropriate place.
5. Repeat steps 1 through 4 for the remaining genes (B through F).
6. Create DNA for the final two traits (Gene G and Gene H) and give their initial DNA sequence, mRNA
codon, tRNA anticodon, and the amino acid sequence. Start with the trait listed and work backwards
to fill in the information for Genes G and H.
7. Using all the inherited traits, sketch your CHNOPS in the space provided.
1
Figure 1
First Second Base Third

Base
Base
U C A G
Phenylalanine Serine Tyrosine Cysteine U
U
Phenylalanine Serine Tyrosine Cysteine C
Leucine Serine Stop Stop A
Leucine Serine Stop Tryptophan G
Leucine Proline Histidine Arginine U
C
Leucine Proline Histidine Arginine C
Leucine Proline Glutamine Arginine A
Leucine Proline Glutamine Arginine G
Isoleucine Threonine Asparagine Serine U
A
Isoleucine Threonine Asparagine Serine C
Isoleucine Threonine Lysine Arginine A
Methionine (start) Threonine Lysine Arginine G
Valine Alanine Aspartate Glycine U
G
Valine Alanine Aspartate Glycine C
Valine Alanine Glutamate Glycine A
Valine Alanine Glutamate Glycine G
Figure 2
Amino Acid Sequence Trait

Tyrosine – Alanine – Tyrosine Hairless
Lysine – Leucine Hairy
Proline – Alanine – Alanine Plump
Histidine – Arginine Skinny
Tryptophan – Proline – Isoleucine Four-legged
Threonine – Serine – Serine Two-legged
Tyrosine – Glutamate - Aspartate Long nose
Lysine – Arginine – Serine – Leucine Short nose
Valine – Isoleucine No freckles
Serine – Alanine Freckles
Proline – Serine – Phenylalanine - Glycine Blue skin
Proline – Serine – Glycine Orange skin
Methionine – Tryptophan – Stop Short legs
Cysteine – Methionine – Alanine Long legs
Methionine – Phenylalanine – Valine Long tail
Valine – Glycine – Cysteine Short tail
Asparagine – Threonine – Methionine Spots
Cysteine – Aspartate - Stop Stripes
Gene A Gene B Gene C

2
DNA ACC GGT TAT DNA AGC CGA DNA TTT AAC
mRNA _____________________ mRNA _____________________ mRNA _____________________
Amino Acid Amino Acid Amino Acid

Sequence ___________________ Sequence ___________________ Sequence ___________________
tRNA _____________________ tRNA ______________________ tRNA ______________________

Trait ______________________ Trait ______________________ Trait ______________________
Gene D Gene E Gene F

DNA G G A C G C C G A DNA GGG AGG AAA CCC DNA ATG CTC CTA
mRNA _____________________ mRNA _____________________ mRNA _____________________
Amino Acid Amino Acid Amino Acid

Sequence ___________________ Sequence ___________________ Sequence ___________________
tRNA ______________________ tRNA ______________________ tRNA ______________________

Trait ______________________ Trait ______________________ Trait ______________________
Gene G Gene H
DNA DNA
mRNA _____________________ mRNA _____________________
Amino Acid Amino Acid

Sequence ___________________ Sequence ___________________
tRNA ______________________ tRNA ______________________

Trait _spots________________ Trait _short tail______________
** Draw your CHNOPS on paper provided.
3
ANALYZE AND CONCLUDE
1. Explain the differences between translation and transcription. _________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
2. What is the specific site for transcription in the cell? _____________________________
3. What is the specific site for translation in the cell? _______________________________
4. How many tRNA nucleotides form an anticodon that will attach to the mRNA codon? ____________
5. Suppose you knew the makeup of specific proteins in a cell. How could you determine the particular
DNA code that coded for them? (Think about it, you did this in this lab.)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
6. How could one change in a DNA nucleotide alter the formation of the translated protein? For
example, if we changed or removed the nucleotide in bold from the following DNA strand, how would
that affect the formation of the protein? Explain (step by step).
DNA: TACTCAATTCACGCT
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

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CHNOPS Lab

Constructing a Model of Protein Synthesis

Name ______________________________ Date _ Hour ___

First Second Base Third

Amino Acid Sequence Trait

Gene A Gene B Gene C

Amino Acid Amino Acid Amino Acid

tRNA _ tRNA tRNA ____

Gene D Gene E Gene F

Amino Acid Amino Acid Amino Acid

tRNA tRNA tRNA __

Amino Acid Amino Acid

tRNA tRNA

** Draw your CHNOPS on paper provided.

1. Explain the differences between translation and transcription. _________________________________

2. What is the specific site for transcription in the cell? _____________________________

3. What is the specific site for translation in the cell? _______________________________

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