Protein Synthesis WebQuest

Introduction

Welcome Student Geneticists!   

Essential Questions: How are proteins made from a DNA template? Why are some genetic mutations harmful, while others are not?

Your job is to find if a mutation (change) in a specific part of DNA causes a change in the protein being made. Changes in DNA and proteins sometimes cause diseases. First, you will need to learn about how proteins are made from a DNA code. This is called protein synthesis. It has two steps: transcription and translation. Then, you will need to learn about mutations in DNA. When your research is complete, you will be ready to find if the mutation in your assigned segment of DNA causes a change in the protein.

When you are ready to begin this challenge, click on the evaluation tab to see how you will be graded. Then click on the task tab to learn more about how to complete your challenge.

Good luck!           

Task

You will have one regular class period and one longblock to complete your research using the iPads. You will be given a list of websites to visit and a list of questions to answer. On day three, you will be given a normal DNA sequence and a DNA sequence with a mutation. You will transcribe and translate each sequence to find if the mutation causes a change in the protein. You will use this information to create a flowchart to show the basic steps of protein synthesis.

When you are ready to begin this challenge, click on the process tab to begin.

Process

Days 1 and 2- iPads- Read each step and click on the links to go to the websites. Follow the directions on the handout and answer the questions for each website. You will have two days in class (including one longblock) to complete this part.

A) Click on the introduction, evaluation, and task tabs at the top of this page and read the information there if you have not already done so.

B) Watch this video on protein synthesis. Complete questions 1-7 on your handout after you watch the video.

Link to video: http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/tdc02.sci.life.gen.proteinsynth/from-dna-to-protein/

C) Now you will learn more about transcription and translation. Complete the activities under sections 2, 3, and 5 of this website. Use the tabs on the left side of the screen to move between the parts. Answer questions 8-11 on the handout.

http://projectsharetexas.org/resource/mechanisms-genetics-%E2%80%93-protein-synthesis?external_1=2663&external_2=3237&external_3=All

D) Now you will learn more about translation and codons. Read the paragraph above the colorful circle (codon wheel). Than answer questions 12-14 on the handout. http://www2.sluh.org/bioweb/bi100/tutorials/thegeneticcode.htm#codonwheel

E) Now it's time to learn more about mutations. Read the information on this website. Then answer questions 15-17 on your handout.

http://www.ck12.org/life-science/Mutations-in-Life-Science/lesson/Mutations/

F) Are you ready to practice with protein synthesis? You will now use an interactive to pratice transcribing and translating genes. Follow the directions on the handout carefully. Raise your hand to ask for help if you get confused. Answer questions 18-24 on your handout.

http://mw.concord.org/nextgen/#interactives/biology/dna/modeling-transcription

Day 3- Final Product

Before you begin today, the teacher will show you an example of what the final product should look like.

A) Draw a line down the middle of a page in your notebook. Write  Normal DNA at the top of the left half of the page and DNA with Mutation at the top of the right half.

B) Glue the hypothetical DNA strand near the top of the normal DNA section (left). Label this "DNA".

C) Transcribe your DNA by writing the complementary RNA bases under the DNA. Label your new strand "RNA".

D) Draw a box around every three RNA bases, starting with the first base on the left. These are your codons.

E) Use the codon wheel to write the name of each amino acid under the codons. Label the chain of amino acids "protein"

F) Your teacher will give you a hypothetical DNA strand with a mutation. Glue this near the top of the right side of your notebook page.

G) Repeat steps C-E for the DNA with a mutation.

H) Draw arrows to show how information flows in your model from DNA to RNA to protein.

I) Label transcription, translation, and mutation on your chart.

J) Complete the following sentence under your flowchart.

The mutation CHANGED or DID NOT CHANGE the protein because ___________________.

Evaluation

Criteria

Starting   Out= 1

Making   Progress = 2

Acceptable=   3

Remarkable   = 4

Stayed   on Task and Completed Activities

Stayed   on task less than 60% of the time and complete less than half of the   activities under the task tab and on the handout.

Stayed   on task 60% or more of the time and completed at least half of the activities   under the task tab and on the handout.

Stayed   on task 75% or more of the time and completed most of the activities under   the task tab and on the handout.

Stayed   on task 90-100% of the time and completed all activities under the task tab   and on the handout.

Accuracy   of Answers to Questions on Handout

Less than 60% of the   answers to the questions on the handout are correct

60%  or more of the answers to the questions on   the handout are correct

75% or more of the   answers to the questions on the handout are correct

90% or more of the   answers to the questions on the handout are correct

Appropriate   Use of iPad

Rarely   followed directions for how to use iPad, including following school   acceptable use technology policy

Sometimes   followed directions for how to use iPad, including following school   acceptable use technology policy

Frequently   followed directions for how to use iPad, including following school   acceptable use technology policy

Always   followed directions for how to use iPad, including following school   acceptable use technology policy

Accuracy   of final product- transcription and translation of normal and mutated DNA   segments

5 or more mistakes in   the RNA and protein sequences created from both the normal and mutated DNA

3-4 mistakes in the RNA and protein sequences   created from both the normal and mutated DNA

2 mistakes in the RNA and protein sequences created from both the   normal and mutated DNA

0-1 mistakes in the   RNA and protein sequences created from both the normal and mutated DNA

Final   product is set up as a clear, organized, labeled flowchart

The   flow chart is somewhat organized. Less than 3 of these are labeled: DNA, RNA,   protein, transcription, translation, and mutation.

The   flow chart is somewhat organized and easy to read. At least 3 of these are   labeled: DNA, RNA, protein, transcription, translation, and mutation.

The   flow chart is somewhat organized and easy to read. At least 4 of these are   labeled: DNA, RNA, protein, transcription, translation, and mutation.

The   flow chart is organized and easy to read. All of these are labeled: DNA, RNA,   protein, transcription, translation, and mutation.

Grading      A= 18-20 points     B= 14-17 Points   C= 11-13 points 

                  D= 7-10 points      F= 0-6 points

Credits

Created by Andrea Metayer. July, 2014.

Resources used in this webquest:

CK-12 Foundation. (2014). Mutations. Retrieved from: http://www.ck12.org/life-science/Mutations-in-Life-Science/lesson/Mutations/

Concord Consortium. (2014). Next Generation Molecular Workbench. DNA to Protein. Retrieved from: http://mw.concord.org/nextgen/#interactives/biology/dna/modeling-transcription

Kuensting, S. (2004). The Genetic Code. Retrieved from: http://www2.sluh.org/bioweb/bi100/tutorials/thegeneticcode.htm#codonwheel

Massachusetts Department of Education. (October, 2006). Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework. Malden, MA.

PBS Learning Media. (2014). From DNA to Protein. Retrieved from: http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/tdc02.sci.life.gen.proteinsynth/from-dna-to-protein/

ProjectShare. (2014). Mechanisms of Genetics – Protein Synthesis. Retrieve from: http://projectsharetexas.org/resource/mechanisms-genetics-%E2%80%93-protein-synthesis?external_1=2663&external_2=3237&external_3=All

Teacher Page

MA Biology Curriculum Frameworks Addressed in this webquest:

3.2 Describe the basic process of DNA replication and how it relates to the transmission and conservation of the genetic code. Explain the basic processes of transcription and translation, and how they result in the expression of genes. Distinguish among the end products of replication, transcription, and translation.

3.3 Explain how mutations in the DNA sequence of a gene may or may not result in phenotypic change in an organism. Explain how mutations in gametes may result in phenotypic changes in offspring. (Massachusetts Department of Education, 2006).

Before beginning this activity, students should have a basic understanding of the following terms: DNA, RNA, base, nucleotide, transcription, translation, mutation.