NAME______________________________________ GENE TO PROTEIN NOTES

(Transcription & Translation)

● Central Dogma of Molecular Genetics

_____________ → mRNA → _______________

● What is a gene?
_______________________________________

● What are the building blocks of proteins?

_______________________________________

● What organelle makes proteins?

_______________________________________

● What are some proteins that give you your traits?

_______________________________________

DNA vs. RNA

1. RNA is single stranded
2. Uracil instead of Thymine
3. Ribose sugar in RNA

STEP ONE: TRANSCRIPTION DNA codes for mRNA in NUCLEUS

1. RNA copies the message from __________ - called messenger RNA (mRNA)

2. _______________________ enzyme performs this

3. Complementary base pairing (No T!! In RNA put a _________ instead!

4. mRNA leaves the nucleus

Practice:

DNA TAC ACC TAG ACT

mRNA
STEP TWO: TRANSLATION RNA codes for Amino Acids on RIBOSOME

1. mRNA goes to the _________________

- Every 3 letters of the mRNA is called a _________________

2. Each codon signals for an _________________

3. The amino acid is carried over to ribosome, and builds the polypeptide (protein)
4. Begins with mRNA ___________ codon AUG (methionine) and ends with mRNA ____________ codon

MUST USE A CODON CHART:

mRNA AUG UGG AUC UGA

Amino acids
(protein)

***SEQUENCE OF AMINO ACIDS DETERMINES THE PROTEIN ***

ACTIVITY: PRACTICE TRANSCRIBING AND TRANSLATING A GENE
Go to explorelearning.com and click on the “RNA and Protein Synthesis”

Transcription
1. Release the enzyme to open the DNA.
2. Now make the messenger RNA ( remember it is only a single strand)
3. Then Click the Camera on the top right corner and put the picture below:

Translation
Now use that mRNA CODE from the picture below to find the amino acids to make the
protein/trait (you must use this chart)

mRNA codons AUG CUG ACC UAG

Amino Acids
NAME_______________________________________ MUTATION NOTES

A. MUTATION: Change in the ___________________________________.

How does that affect the proteins?

1. Example #1: Sickle Cell Anemia: Inherited Genetic Mutation

● _______ base change in ___________ base sequence.

● Change in __________ will change the __________, which will

change the _____________________________
● ____________________________________ protein does not work
properly

2. Example #2: Tay Sachs: Inherited Genetic Mutation

● _____________________________________________________________

● _____________________________________________________________
B. Define a Point Mutation:

1. List some diseases caused by point mutations:

a. Base Substitution: _____________________________________________________________

b. Base Addition: _____________________________________________________________

c. Base Deletion: _____________________________________________________________

* Affects the function of the PROTEIN *

C. Addition or deletion of a nucleotide causes ________________________________. Effects of

insertions or deletions are more _____________________________.
D. If amino acid does not CHANGE, the mutation is called ________________________.

→ If a mutation is inherited ___________ cells will have the mutation

→ If a mutation is caused by the environment _________ the cells where the DNA is mutated will
be affected.
E. Environmental Causes: A ______________________________ is any environmental agent that causes a
change in DNA
⚫ Can be chemical or physical. Ex: _____________________________________________________________

F. Can you think of when mutations might be GOOD? Name 3 examples.

● _____________________________________________________________

● _____________________________________________________________

● _____________________________________________________________