Alien Encounters!

Background: In the year 2050, an incredible archeological discovery was made in the middle of a
remote area of southern Clark County in Indiana. It was an area where a large, as yet unidentified
object had struck the Earth. A pile of bone-like fragments were found but were identified as non-
human. Samples from the bone fragments were sent to NASA labs to determine their origin. DNA
was recovered from the fragments and meticulous DNA analysis revealed that the remains were
alien in origin. Further analysis of the recovered DNA and reconstruction of the alien genome
showed that they possessed 9 different observable phenotypes.

Purpose: In this activity, you will determine the traits of these unfortunate recovered aliens by
analyzing their DNA and determining the amino acid sequences of the resulting small protein
fragments. Each fragment is associated with a particular gene and a specific alien characteristic
(trait).
Procedure:
1. Put the DNA sequence for each gene in the proper location on your data sheet.
2. Transcribe the DNA for each gene into mRNA. Record those sequences.
3. Translate the mRNA into amino acids using an mRNA Codon Chart. Record the amino acid sequence for each gene.
4. Use the “Alien Genes” chart to determine the traits that are associated with each of your amino acids sequences and write those
traits on the charts.
5. Use the picture frame on the back to sketch and color your alien, making sure to include all relevant (known) traits. (You can add
other unknown traits, if you wish.)
Be sure to include your alien’s genus and species at the top of your drawing and data sheet. Place your name on your drawing.
(NOTE: The genus name must be capitalized and the species name always starts with a lower case letter…example—humans are
Homo sapiens. House cats are Felis catus. Giraffes are Giraffa Camelopardalis.
6. Answer the following questions.

Questions:
A. Which RNA did you used to sequence your amino acids? __________________________________________

B. Give the tRNA sequences for Gene D. _________________________________________________________________________

C. If tRNA does not code for amino acids, what is its function?

C. Create a point mutation in the DNA sequence for the third letter in gene #1. Write the new sequence below, add the mRNA
sequence under it and the new amino acid sequence. Did your mutation result in a different trait? Explain:

yes
D. If you knew a particular amino acid sequence, could you figure out the DNA for that sequence? ___________
Explain:  If we know an amino acid sequence present in an mRNA we can figure out the DNA for that sequence. As
the amino acid sequence is the opposite of the DNA sequence so just reverse transcript the sequence.

E. What is the difference between transcription and translation? Discuss in terms of where they take place and what they do:
Transcription is the synthesis of RNA from a DNA template where the code in the DNA is converted into a
complementary RNA code. The translation is the synthesis of a protein from an mRNA template where the
code in the mRNA is converted into an amino acid sequence in a protein.
F. What are the roles of the DNA, the mRNA, the rRNA, and tRNA in protein synthesis?

Messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules carry the coding sequences for protein synthesis and
are called transcripts; ribosomal RNA (rRNA) molecules form the core of a cell's ribosomes
(the structures in which protein synthesis takes place); and transfer RNA (tRNA) molecules
carry amino acids to the ribosomes during protein synthesis.
DATA Tables for Alien Gene Analysis: NAME____________________________________________________

#1
Alien Number _______ Alien Genus and species______________________________________________

Is your alien hairless or hairy? Is your alien fat or skinny?

GENE A GENE B
DNA A C C -G G T- T A T DNA ACCCAACAA
mRNA UGG-CCA-AUA mRNA UGG-GUU-GUU
Amino Acids try,pro, isol Amino Acids Try, val,val
Trait Hairy Trait fat

Does your alien have 4 legs or 8 legs? What kind of nose does your alien have?
GENE C GENE D
DNA AGCAGG DNA G TCAG G AAACCC
mRNA UCG-UCC mRNA CAG-UCC-UUU-GGG
Amino Acids ser,ser Amino Acids gln,ser,phe,gly
Trait 8 legs Trait short nose/3 nostrils

What kind of antennae does it have? What color skin does your alien have?
GENE E GENE F
DNA TTTAAA DNA GGACGCCGA
mRNA AAA-UUU mRNA CCU-GCG-GCU
Amino Acids lys,phe Amino Acids pro,ala,ala
Trait 2 straight antennas Trait blue skin

How many fingers does your alien have? Describe your alien’s tail?
GENE G GENE H
DNA G TCG TCCTA DNA CG CCCCTAT
mRNA CAG-CAG-GAU mRNA GCG-GGG-AUA
Amino Acids gln,gln,asp Amino Acids ala,gly,iso
Trait 4 fingers each hand Trait long spiral tail

Does your alien have 4 eyes or 3 eyes?

GENE I
DNA TATCTACG C
mRNA AUA-GAU-GCG
Amino Acids iso,asp,ala
Trait 4 eyes
 ALIEN GENES

This table shows the amino acid sequences for the various alien genes and traits.

Gene Amino Acid Sequence Resulting Characteristic

Letter
A Val-pro-ileu Hairless
Tryp-pro-ileu Hairy
B Tryp-val-val fat
Ileu-ileu-ser skinny
C Ser-ala 4 legs
Ser-ser 8 legs
D Pro-ser-phe-gly Long nose/2 nostrils
Gln-ser-phe-gly Short nose/3 nostrils
E Lys-phe 2 straight antennae
Lys-leu 2 curly antennae
F Pro-ala-ala Blue skin
Pro-ala-asp Red skin
Pro-ala-val Purple skin
Pro-ala-pro Green skin
G Gln-gln-asp 4 fingers/each hand
Gln-gln-lys 6 fingers/each hand
H Gly-gly-ileu Long, straight tail
ala-gly-ileu Long, spiral tail
I Ileu-asp-ala 4 eyes
Ser-asp-ala 3 eyes
 Recovered Sequences = Alien Species #1

GENE A: CAAGGATAT

GENE B: ACCCAACAA

GENE C: AGCAGG

GENE D: GTCAGGAAACCC

GENE E: TTTAAA

GENE F: GGACGCCGA

GENE G: GTCGTCCTA

GENE H: CGCCCCTAT

GENE I: TATCTACGC

Recovered Sequences = Alien Species #2

GENE A: ACCGGTTAT

GENE B: ACCCAACAA

GENE C: AGCAGG

GENE D: GGTAGGAAACCC

GENE E: TTTAAA

GENE F: GGACGCGGG

GENE G: GTCGTCTTT

GENE H: CGCCCCTAT

GENE I: AGCCTACGC
 Recovered Sequences = Alien Species #3

GENE A: CAAGGATAT

GENE B: TATTATAGC

GENE C: AGCAGG

GENE D: GGTAGGAAACCC

GENE E: TTTAAC

GENE F: GGACGCCTA

GENE G: GTCGTCTTT

GENE H: CCCCCCTAT

GENE I: AGCCTACGC

Recovered Sequences = Alien Species #4

GENE A: ACCGGTTAT

GENE B: TATTATAGC

GENE C: AGCCGA

GENE D: GGTAGGAAACCC

GENE E: TTTAAC

GENE F: GGACGCCAA

GENE G: GTCGTCCTA

GENE H: CCCCCCTAT

GENE I: TATCTACGC