Translation Activity Georgia Version

Name ______Date ______Period ______Translation Activity – Georgia Version Proteins are very important in living organisms. To make a protein, our cells first transcribe a gene (from DNA) into an RNA molecule, and then translate the RNA message into a sequence of amino acids.

The process of producing a protein is as follows: First, the DNA “unzips” and is copied as mRNA (a process called transcription).

Next, this message leaves the nucleus in search of a ribosome (the site of protein synthesis). This mRNA feeds into the ribosome and then is decoded into sets of three (translation).

How is it translated? A codon is a set of 3 nitrogen bases on the mRNA. The matching anti-codon from the tRNA locks in to the codon. The tRNA is attached to specific amino acid. As amino acids link together, a protein (polypeptide) forms.

PROCEDURE: Below are several mRNA messages. Translate them to the proper tRNA sequences and then use the decoder chart to find the proper letter sequence. In the practice set the letters will represent amino acids. Finally, translate the messages into real amino acid sequences using the real genetic code chart. 1. mRNA: AAGACCAUGAAAGUCACCAAAAACCUCAAGGCCUACACGAUU tRNA:

Practice message:

Real message:

2. mRNA : AGGUACUUACUCAGGGGUAAGUUAGUCGUGCCGGUGGGAGUCUAUACU tRNA:

Practice message:

Real message:

3. mRNA: UUGAUGCCAGUAUUUGGUGAUGACGGUACCCCGAUC tRNA:

Practice message: Name ______Date ______Period ______4. mRNA: UUACGGUACCACUACGUCUUGCGUUACUACACGUCGAAAGUGUUCAUC tRNA:

Practice message:

5. mRNA : GUGAAAACGACCUACCUUACAAGGUUAAUGCACACCUUAGCACUCGUCAAAGUGUACGUUACCAUU

Practice message:

6. mRNA: AACCUCAAAACAACGACCUUAUCAGUUAAUAAAAUGUAAAUC tRNA:

Practice message:

7. mRNA: ACGACCUUGGUUUACGUAUUAGCGGUUACCAAAGGAGUUACU tRNA:

Practice message:

8. This message represents message #7 with a problem. What is the problem? mRNA: ACGACUUGGUUUACGUAUUAGCGGUUACCAAAGGAGUUACU tRNA:

Practice message:

ANALYSIS 1. How did the problem affect the sense of the letter sequence?

2. How did it affect the amino acid sequence?

3. Where could the problem occur and not dramatically affect the protein being made?

4. What if you simply substituted a “C” for the 5th tRNA nucleotide in message #7? How would the substitution affect the protein? Name ______Date ______Period ______