NAME: Ang, Antivola, Silva, Te, Vizcarra GROUP: 2 –Targaryen

TITLE OF ACTIVITY: Central Dogma of Molecular Biology DATE: 22 September 2017

Data and Results

Part 1: 3D DNA Model for Replication, Transcription and Translation
REPLICATION
Original DNA Separation of DNA strands Complementary strands

DNA Sequence: What is the enzyme responsible Complementary strand

Strand 1: TAC CAC AAT ATC for separation of the strands? sequence:
Strand 2: ATG GTG TTA TAG Helicase Compl. strand 1: TAC CAC
AAT ATC
Compl. strand 2: ATG GTG
TTA TAG
TRANSCRIPTION
DNA template mRNA transcript mRNA Codons

What are the four codons

Sequence of DNA template:
TAC CAC AAT ATC
Initiation
What is tRNA sequence and
amino acid of the start codon?
1st: UAC - Methionine
AUG GUG UUA UAG from the mRNA transcript?
AUG – GUG – UUA – UAG
TRANSLATION
Elongation Termination
What is tRNA sequence and What is tRNA sequence and
amino acid of the second and amino acid of the fourth codon?
third? 4th: AUC – Stop
2nd: CAC – Valine
3rd: AAU – Leucine Translation stopped. What do
you call this codon? Stop Codon

Ang (09/22) Antivola (09/22) Silva (09/22) Te (09/22) Vizcarra (09/22)

Parts 2 and 3: Extraction of DNA from Fruits and Buccal Cells
Insert picture of the corresponding steps from your experiment. Write observations.
Strawberry Banana Kiwi
Mashing of fruits

x x

Observations: Observations: Observations:

x - ½ spoon salt, 20 mL water x
added before mashing
- Some bubble formation
manifested
- Mashed banana became
watery
Addition of detergent

x x

Observations: Observations: Observations:

x - Mashed banana was strained x
before putting liquid soap
- Mixture became greenish in
color after gently stirring
- Some bubble formation
manifested (due to soap)

Ang (09/22) Antivola (09/22) Silva (09/22) Te (09/22) Vizcarra (09/22)

 Addition of cold alcohol

x x

Observations: Observations: Observations:

x - Layer formation noticeable x
even without mixing yet
- 5 minutes setting time done:
layers were distinctly
apparent
- Clustered particles (DNA of
banana) float on alcohol
layer
Final output

insert picture

Observations: Observations: Observations:

- Yielded DNA from - Amount of DNA yielded - Yielded DNA from kiwi is
strawberry is most apparent from banana is large minute
among banana and kiwi - DNA clumped together - DNA did not cluster to form
- Large clumps acquired clumps

Ang (09/22) Antivola (09/22) Silva (09/22) Te (09/22) Vizcarra (09/22)

 Collected buccal cells Addition of buffer
Observations: Observations:
- Bubble formation is apparent as member spits - Some bubbles stayed on top as 25%
the gargled 0.9% salt water dishwashing liquid was added
- No DNA yielded yet - Dots and strands started to form on top

ANG ANTIVOLA SILVA TE VIZCARRA

Final output
Observations:
- White dots and strands (DNA fragments) became more apparent on top
- Using a stick, fragments were transferred to a vial with alcohol
- Each member yielded distinct amounts of DNA
- Ang: member with the most strands or fragments to appear
- Antivola: strands clumped into a single “ball”
- Silva, Te, Vizcarra: some strands apparent

Ang (09/22) Antivola (09/22) Silva (09/22) Te (09/22) Vizcarra (09/22)

Discussion
DNA serves as the foundation of genetic material for living organisms; it becomes the
backbone for the transmission of traits between parent and offspring through a process not only
involving said transfer but also protein translation and transcription, and storage of genetic
information. A single fault in this complex process may result to distinct changes in the offspring’s
overall appearance and functioning once birthed – this elucidates the essence of DNA processing,
not only in the field of biology, but to all living matter.

The structure of a double-helix DNA, deoxyribonucleic acid, is branched out into defining
constituents: a sugar phosphate backbone and nitrogenous bases, playing significant roles in its
processing, or more widely known as Central Dogma – replication, translation, and transcription
– described by Francis Crick in 1957. The end products of these processes are replicated DNA and
protein, which makes up our cells and tissues. Putting it in the briefest way possible, DNA is
duplicated in replication; DNA is made RNA by RNA polymerase in translation; mRNA is made
protein by ribosome enzymes in transcription. Transfer of information becomes the main facet of
these processes – this lies in the way nucleotides A, C, G, and T are sequenced.

The absence of twists and turns is not assured in this highly complex series of processes.
Boyer (2006) enlists basepair insertion, deletion, and substitution as errors in DNA replication.
Basepair substitution involves the genetic mutation within single base pairs; in simpler terms, it
refers to the alteration of a single “chemical letter,” e.g. replacing C for T, in which purine is
swapped with another purine, or pyrimidine with another pyrimidine. This type of mutation
negatively impacts the production of proteins, in which changing a codon has no effect (silent
mutation), encodes a different amino acid (missense mutation), or creates a stop codon (nonsense
mutation). Repairing the affected DNA can be recognized by enzymes, namely glycosylase either
removing, replacing, or simply fixing the defaced area. Mechanisms like this become of great aid
in maintaining the processing of DNA during error, though once these abnormalities occur,
disorders are bound to happen, in which defects are observed in a certain chromosome or gene.

Ang (09/22) Antivola (09/22) Silva (09/22) Te (09/22) Vizcarra (09/22)

 Once a series of these mutations occur in the genes of a cell, cancer becomes its result.
Starr (2016) mentions that this causes an abnormal cell structure, failing to divide normally and
spreading from one body part to the other, namely the process of metastasis.

Selecting a disorder from the myriad of genetic

mutations, Maple Syrup Urine Disease or MSUD is a
disease involving the inability of a complex protein,
BCKD or branched-chain alpha-ketoacid dehydro-
genase to break down important acids, i.e. leucine,
valine, and isoleucine. High levels of the said amino
acids in the body can cause rapid degeneration of brain
cells and even death. It typically occurs on newborn
babies (Classic MSUD), but it can also be observed at
any age (Intermediate MSUD). If both parents carry the
MSUD defective gene, the case would be 1 out of their
4 children would inherit the same faulty gene leading to
the child fully obtaining the disease. This could also
happen when a mutation occurs in chromosome 19,
which is responsible for encoding BCKD. Babies
possessing the disorder would appear normal at birth,
but after 3-4 days, symptoms such as fussiness, loss of
appetite, and urine smelling as sweet as maple syrup
would appear. Other symptoms include vomiting, delay
in breastfeeding, problems in weight gain, progressive
lethargy, muscle hypotonia and hypertonia
(alternating), dystonia, encephalopathy, and
pancreatitis. If it aggravates, the child may evidently
show seizures, going to coma, and possibility of death
within his or her first month/s of living. Treatments
include gene therapy in which the defective gene is
replaced with a healthy one, intravenous solutions in

Ang (09/22) Antivola (09/22) Silva (09/22) Te (09/22) Vizcarra (09/22)

which the amount of leucine, valine, and isoleucine in the body is lessened, dietary restriction in
which food that trigger the amount of said amino acids is prohibited, liver transplant, and glucose
and insulin infusions which manage metabolic compositions and promote anabolism, respectively.

The significance of the model and structure of DNA helps us to understand how each
relationship and process contribute to what living organisms come to be. Fault in replication,
translation, and transcription spawn the occurrence of genetic mutations and disorders.
Constructing an actual model of a double-helix DNA aided in highlighting the importance of
correct pairing of nitrogenous bases to ensure the proper functioning of the organism with DNA

Ang (09/22) Antivola (09/22) Silva (09/22) Te (09/22) Vizcarra (09/22)

illustrated, depicting the essence that Central Dogma, though a tedious and complex process, is
the foundation for life. The group’s objectives for the laboratory experiment are met.

Extracting DNA from an organism becomes a hands-on way of studying and identifying
its distinct characteristics. This is conducted in the set of experiments involving the use of everyday
household items such as alcohol and liquid soap which help in making the extracted DNA more
apparent. In the conducted activity, 70°C warm water and table salt were mashed together with the
fruit. The presence of warm water inhibits enzyme activity and halts the DNA from breaking apart.
The salt acted both as binder and splitter – the former adhering together molecules of DNA, and
the latter partitioning protein chains around nucleic acids. The cells’ nuclei opening and DNA
untying from its source are results of finely mashing the banana with warm water and salt all
together. Adding liquid soap to the mixture disintegrates and bust opens the cells’ membrane and
organelles’ phospholipid bilayers allowing DNA to break free. The DNA to be extracted is
observed in the form of precipitates when cold alcohol is added to the mixture. DNA as a substance
insoluble in alcohol, it separates and appears on the top layer in clusters becoming apparent to the
observer. It is also known that the lower the temperature of the ethanol alcohol, the less soluble
the DNA will be in it.

Observing and comparing the amount of yielded DNA from each fruit, namely banana,
kiwi, and strawberry, the group has concluded that strawberry is the fruit with the highest DNA
yield. Possessing large genomes, strawberries are known to be octoploid – having eight of each
chromosome in a single cell – making it a recognized fruit used in laboratory experiments
involving DNA extraction. Having performed all these, the remaining objectives of the group are
met.

With the advent of new, innovative technology, scientists have been more capable of doing
ethical and unethical acts. Whatever is beneficial came from ethical acts, but not all ethical acts
result in wholly beneficial outcomes. Altering the genome of food, for example, have been proved
to cause nutrient imbalance, toxicity, and product extinction. It resulted into having more
beneficial outcomes, but the inevitability of creating the bad is present. Scientists are not entirely
sure how the interaction of genes to nutrients, and nutrients to nutrients happen; how strong they

Ang (09/22) Antivola (09/22) Silva (09/22) Te (09/22) Vizcarra (09/22)

are, and its bioavailability. Central dogma had also paved the way for the discovery of a number
of diseases, but the outcome questions itself whether it is worth it or not – should advancements
in scientific discovery come at a price? Central dogma in medicine and biotechnology is indeed a
double-edged sword.

We see that it takes multiple professional specializations, numerous academic disciplines,

and extensive knowledge to correct mistakes and lessen, if not, erase negative consequences. There
is still much unknown, and the possibility of exploitation of science and unpredictable
consequences of scientific research lingers. It brings up issues like the legality of every procedure
and its outcome, the persistence of bioweapons, bioterrorism, and the like. We, as young catalysts
are sparked with potential to make a change, an effort for the development of mankind, and to
overcome the study’s disadvantages.

Suggestions and Comments

The experiments conducted allows any person to fundamentally and visually distinguish
DNA from various sources, i.e. inner cheek linings and fruits, identifying its defining
characteristics. This paves the way for a much deeper, finer understanding on how DNA actually
operates and affects the life we are currently living, but some refinements in the overall structure
and circumstances of the experiments could have been made to yield better results. These
improvements include the availability of materials, in which banana had been the only fruit
procurable at the given time. Though all were able to take a glimpse of the amount of DNA yield
for kiwi and strawberry, it would be more engaging if the students had first-hand conducted the
extraction of said DNA, allowing for a more extensive view of the subject matter. One more
suggestion is the open manipulation of the variables – what results would have been yielded if one
increased or decreased a certain amount of material, e.g. fruit, alcohol, salt water, or liquid soap,
leading to an advanced understanding on the relationship between materials and yielded results.

Ang (09/22) Antivola (09/22) Silva (09/22) Te (09/22) Vizcarra (09/22)

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Ang (09/22) Antivola (09/22) Silva (09/22) Te (09/22) Vizcarra (09/22)