Crafting Super Hero Powers: Understanding the Central Dogma of Biology
By next week, you and your group will be creating a super hero team to assist the Avengers in their
upcoming battle against Ultron. At this current moment, you are of no use to them, but this will change when
you create your own super powers by changing your DNA. In order to make these powers however, you will
need to understand the Central Dogma of biology, and master the art of how DNA RNA Proteins. This
packet will take you step by step in the process, but you will need to use the resources around you and your
notes to learn everything you’ll need for this project.
Step 1: Making copies of DNA- DNA are the instructions for all of the cells in your body. If the cells in your
body are going to be infused with the knowledge of how make superpowers, you’ll first need to make copies of
the superpower DNA.
To begin, you must master the art of making a copy of DNA, and you must be able to describe what makes
DNA important. We call this copying of DNA, replication.
1. Original Strand: A T G T G C C T A T G A C T A G T C A A C A T G T
New Strand:
_ _ _ __ _ __ ___ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ __ _ _ __
2. Original Strand: C A G G A A C A A T G A G T A C C C T A G A A A T
New Strand:
_ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _
3. What is the name of the enzyme
that splits DNA into separate
strands
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4. What is the name of the enzyme that
Adds free nucleotides to the DNA?
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5. What is the difference between a
nucleic acid and a nucleotide?
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6. Describe the process that DNA goes through in order to replicate:
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Step 2: The structure of RNA
By making exact copies of DNA, and then going through mitosis and cytokinesis, eukaryotic organisms can
ensure that they have the exact same DNA (and the exact same instructions) in every cell in their body. But
what is actually done with those instructions?
The instructions coded in your DNA are used to produce new proteins, which make up most of your body’s
structure, and allow it to carry out most of the everyday functions that keep you alive. Unfortunately your DNA
can’t leave the nucleus to go to ribosomes, where proteins are actually made. This means you’ll need to rely on
RNA to transcribe the message from the DNA, but before we get ahead of ourselves, we’ll need to learn the
structure of RNA.
Use your DNA and RNA notes and your venn diagram to answer the following questions.
7. What are four characteristics that DNA and RNA have in common?
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8. What are three important differences between DNA and RNA?
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9. Draw and label a picture showing the similarities and differences between DNA and RNA. Use color!
DNA
RNA
Step 3: Different Types of RNABefore we can begin the transformative process that will turn you into superheroes we need to learn about the
three different forms of RNA that exist. Each form provides a vital function that is integral to creating the
proteins in us (as well as the proteins that give us super powers), so before we can move on to making proteins
from RNA, we’ll take a brief pause to consider the three types of RNA that exist in our cells.
With your group, go to one of the computers in the lab area and watch the video that describes what RNA is,
and the different forms of RNA. Keep in mind the important thing to remember right now is that there are three
types of RNA and each has a specific function. (if the computers are taken, you can find this website using your
smartphone by going to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcvdk5iDVXc)
Answer the following questions to show that you know that there are different types of RNA, and that you know
the role that each of the following RNA molecules play in our bodies.
10. List the 3 important types of RNA:
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11. Is it DNA or RNA that leaves the nucleus?
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12. What is the role of mRNA
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13. What is the role of tRNA
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14. What is the role of rRNA
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*Keep in mind that for this project mRNA will be the RNA that we follow all the way back to our DNA.
Step 4: Transcribing RNA
Now that we have learned about RNA’s basic structure, we can focus on how it is created. The process of
creating RNA from DNA is called transcription. To understand this process better, your group will read and
annotate the reading, “The Expression of Genetic Information”, (get one copy per group member from Ms.
Dignan).You will use the information that you learn in this reading, along with your notes, to answer the
following questions. Remember the overall goal here is to figure out how proteins are made.
15. Describe what a gene is:
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16. How does the nucleotide order in DNA help in explaining the order of amino acids in proteins?
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17. What is the name of the process that creates RNA?____________________________________
18. Using figure E12.10, describe how the process named in question 17 works.
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19. During the process of transcription the DNA sequence forms complementary pairs with RNA molecules.
What does Adenine bond with during this process?
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20. During the process of transcription the DNA sequence forms complementary pairs with RNA molecules.
What does Thymine bond with during this process?
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21. Which type of RNA (mRNA, tRNA, or rRNA) is directly translated into protein?
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Step 5: Protein Synthesis – a.k.a. - putting it all together:
This will be the last piece of the puzzle. After this you will be ready to create your super powers, and help save
the world from destruction. This next part will require some careful planning on your part, and your continued
participation is vital to your success. It will also require that you can compare and contrast the following story
with what happens inside a cell.
Story: The Imprisoned Chef:
Long ago there was a world famous chef locked away in a prison high in a tower. Others could enter and
exit the tower, but alas powerful magic prevented the chef from ever leaving. This chef had the recipe to make
the best food in the entire world, but he was sealed in an unescapable prison. Some of Robin Hood’s Merry Men
tried to break him out to no avail, meanwhile the population in the kingdom started to starve. To save the people
the chef had the Merry Men take turns copying down a single recipe that the chef gave them. No person was
ever given more than 1 recipe. The Merry Men took these recipes to the local bakeries, where other Merry Men
were waiting with ingredients. Together as the Merry Men combined both ingredients and recipes they crafted
the world’s best meals for the entire kingdom to enjoy inside these bakeries. Everyone lived happily ever after
(except the chef who never left the prison).
Definitions for your journal:
mRNA- RNA that carries the message to make a protein to the ribosome
tRNA- RNA that carries amino acids to the ribosome to create proteins
rRNA- RNA that is combined with a protein to form the ribosome
Codon- a three letter code on mRNA that codes for 1 amino acid (it’s like a 3-letter word)
Anti-codon- a three letter code on the tRNA that matches the mRNA
Ribosome- an organelle that is the location of protein synthesis
Gene- a unit of DNA that codes for a single trait in an organism (each DNA has multiple genes on it)
Show Mrs. Dignan your completed packet (pages 1-4), as well as your journal definitions. Once she has
okayed your work, she will give you materials needed to complete the following activity. Follow the
directions precisely:
Prior Setup:
1. take each tRNA and attach 1 amino acid to it
2. put the copy of DNA and the complementary DNA strands in the “cells” made of yarn that is in the lab(
you also need to have it within the nucleus)
Procedure:
3. Find the three matching mRNA sequences that correspond with the copy DNA strand and then put those
3 pieces together
4. Take the copy of the mRNA that you made and move it into place inside the ribosome
5. Match the first mRNA 3-letter codon with its complementary tRNA anti-codon
6. After you have paired the mRNA and the tRNA strand, remove the tRNA and leave behind the amino
acid. Also, move the mRNA forward to the new 3 letter codon
7. Repeat step 5 & 6, but this time when you leave the amino acid, have it push the first amino acid up
8. Repeat step 5 & 6, but this time pair it behind the first 2 amino acids
9. You now have a 3-amino acid long protein
Additional Resources: If you don’t feel completely knowledgeable about protein synthesis by the end of this
activity, use the following resources to help supplement your learning:
- Youtube video: http://youtu.be/itsb2SqR-R0 (crash course)
- Youtube video: http://youtu.be/h3b9ArupXZg (bozeman science)
- Reading: p.524-526 in the BSCS books
- Computer Activity: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/molecules/transcribe/
Question:
22. using your knowledge of protein synthesis, describe how the Imprisoned Chef story relates to the making of
proteins (you must include the following terms in your answer: mRNA, tRNA, rRNA, nucleus, DNA, protein,
ribosome, gene, codon, anti-codon, base pairs, transcription, and translation)
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DNA vs RNA Comparison Chart
Name
Type of Sugar
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic
DNA has a deoxyribose sugar
RNA
Ribonucleic acid
RNA has Ribose sugar
Shape
Double Stranded
Single Stranded
Nitrogenous Bases
Pairs: A-T, G-C
Pairs: A-U, G-C
backbone
sugar phosphate backbone
sugar phosphate backbone