This Mini-Lab is designed to enforce previously learned knowledge of DNA sequencing. Its use in this lesson is to refresh the students on the importance of interpreting DNA in one direction only.
To interpret DNA sequences
To discover the importance of DNA sequencing
Textbooks
There is usually a chart of the amino acids in every Biology text. I had my students use this chart to aid in coding for amino acids.
Worksheets
There should be one worksheet for every student. This will list the DNA sequence they will decode.
Paper & pencils
The students were required to write down each step they took during the decoding process.
Left to Right or Right to Left?
I assessed my students based on participation, completion, and correctness of answers.
Genetic Wheel
Some of my students used a genetic wheel with the amino acides listed. This wheel aids in naming the amino acids.
A printable, online genetic wheel can be found at this site, provided by San Diego State University.
Assume that a gene contains the following sequence of nucleotides: GACAAGTCCACAATC
Reading from the left to the right, transcribe the gene into a molecule of mRNA.
Reading the codons from left to right, translate the mRNA into a polypeptide.
Repeat step 3 reading the codon from the right to left.
Why did steps 3 & 4 produce different polypeptides?
Do cells decode nucleotides in one direction only or can they decode them in either direction? Formulate a hypothesis to answer this question.
This lesson takes only about 20 minutes, although some students may require up to 30 minutes (with discussion time included).
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