SAN BARTOLOME LA MERCED SCHOOL - NATURAL CONTEXT SEMINAR.

TEACHERS: MARÍA FERNÁNDA IBAÑEZ – MARTHA YANETH RODRÍGUEZ LEIVA.

DATE: ______________________ 7TH_____ SEMINAR GROUP: ________
C4: Lists the steps in protein synthesis.
STUDENT’S NAME:
__________________________________________________________________________________________
TOPIC: PROTEIN SYNTHESIS (CONCEPTUALIZATION)

KEY VOCABULARY

• Trait: A trait is an observable characteristic that is inherited (passed down) from a living
thing to its offspring. (e.g. eyes color, hair color, tongue curling, blood type etc.)
• Proteins: Large molecules made up of amino acids. Proteins are essential for life
because they are involved in biological processes such as transport, in structure, in
acting as enzymes that make all kinds of materials, in protecting the body.
• Protein synthesis: Process by which proteins are made. Include two stages transcription
and translation.
• Ribosomes: is a cell organelle found inside the living cells that produce proteins from
amino acids during a process called protein synthesis or translation.

Read the passage about protein synthesis and complete the personal task that follow in
your notebook.

PROTEIN SYNTHESIS

After learning about DNA, have you ever wondered how the DNA can result in a trait? Let's
take an example such as eye color. Your DNA has the genetic information that codes for the
color of your eyes. Your eye color is based on a pigment that is inside the eyes. But, to have
that pigment, you have genes. Genes are portions of DNA that can code for proteins which
help make that pigment. However, how it is possible to your DNA makes a protein?

The process by which cells produce proteins is called protein synthesis. Synthesis means to
“make something” so protein synthesis means to make protein. Proteins are large molecules
made up of amino acids, proteins are involved in transport, in structure, in acting as enzymes
that make all kinds of materials, in protecting the body, etc.

Protein synthesis include two major steps, transcription, and translation.

TRANSCRIPTION

The first step in making a protein is call transcription. During this process the DNA molecule will
be transcribed into a message (mRNA). This process take place in the nucleus of the cell.

1. The DNA must be open. To do it, an enzyme call RNA polymerase will unwind the
doble helix and let free two strands: the coding strand and the template strand.
2. Using the template strand as guide, RNA polymerase applies the base rule to assemble
free nucleotides and create a complementary strand of messenger RNA (mRNA).

1. Considering, messenger RNA (mRNA) is made by matching complimentary nucleotides

to their partners. Practice determining the mRNA sequence from the original DNA
sequence. (Remember: RNA structure contains uracil instead thymine).

DNA sequence: A T G T T C A G A
mRNA sequence: ________________

DNA sequence: T A G G A T C C G
mRNA sequence: ________________

DNA sequence: G C A T A G T T A
mRNA sequence: ________________

DNA sequence: G C C C T A A C G
mRNA sequence: ________________
TRANSLATION

Once mRNA is created, it will leave the nucleus and travel to the ribosome in the cytoplasm of
the cell. Inside the ribosome will read mRNA in triplets (three letters) called codons.

Each codon codes for a specific amino

acid, which are carried to the ribosome by
a molecule call tRNA (transfer ARN). tRNA
molecules have the amino acid at the top,
and an anti-codon at the bottom. The anti-
codon is this sequence of three bases,
which are complementary to the codon in
the mRNA. Because each type of tRNA is
specific to a particular codon it ensures that
always brings down the correct amino acid.

For example: the first codon is AAA, so it will

attract the anti-codon UUU which codes for
the amino acid Lysine.

1. Practice matching mRNA with the complementary tRNA strand. (Remember: ARN has
uracil instead of thymine).

mRNA sequence: A U C G G G A U U C A G C U A
tRNA sequence: ________________________________

mRNA sequence: U G A U A A G A C A C U A G U
tRNA sequence: ________________________________

To determine which amino acid will be added to the growing peptide chain, we look at the
codon, or three letter code, in the mRNA, not the tRNA. Considering the tRNA as just the
vehicle which transports the amino acid to its place. The mRNA is the keeper of actual
message.

2. Use the following chart to read the message and identify the amino acid that will be
added to the codon.

mRNA Codon Amino acid

AUG
GUA
UAC
CAU
UUA
GGC
UAG
UGA
CCC