Amino Amigos! Name: _______________________ Date: ________________________ Pd. _______ Amino Amigos! Introduction: Genes are the units that determine inherited characteristics, such as hair color and blood type. Genes are lengths of DNA molecules that determine the structure of polypeptides (the building blocks of proteins) that our cells make. The sequence of nucleotides in DNA determines the sequence of amino acids in polypeptides, and thus the structure of proteins.  In this investigation, you will simulate the mechanism of protein synthesis and thereby determine the traits inherited by fictitious organisms called Amino Amigos.   Amino Amigos, whose cells contain only one chromosome, are members of the kingdom Animalia. An Amino Amigo chromosome is made up of six genes (A, B, C, D, E, and F), each of which is responsible for a certain trait.  Purpose: How can traits on a particular chromosome determine the characteristics of an organism? How can mutations within the genes change these characteristics? Procedures: Get your Amino Amigo sequence sheet from your teacher. This sheet includes the DNA sequences of each gene that you will transcribe into mRNA. To determine the trait for Gene A of your amino amigo, fill in the information in the box labeled Gene A in the Data Table. On the line provided, write the sequence of nucleotides in DNA (REPLICATION). On the line provided, write the sequence of nucleotides of mRNA that are complementary to DNA (TRANSCRIPTION).  In order to determine the sequence of amino acids, use the codon table provided. Write the sequence of amino acids for each gene, be sure to include STOP codons.  Find the gene trait that matches the amino acid sequence. Record the traits. Repeat steps 1 through 3 for the remaining genes (B through F). Using all the inherited traits, sketch your Amino Amigo in the space provided. NAME your Amino Amigo.

Amino Acid Sequences for Each Gene Trait: Codon Table: Amino Acid Sequences for Each Gene Trait: Amino Acid Sequence Gene Trait A: Met-Thr-Gly-Gly Hairless A: Met-Thr-Trp-Trp Hairy B: Met-Thr-Val-Ser Plump B: Met-Gly-Val-Ser Skinny C: Met-Ser-Arg Four-Legged C: Met-Pro-Arg Two Wings, Two Legs C: Met-Trp-Arg Four Wings D: Met-Gly-Arg-Lys-Pro Trunk D: Met-Gly-Arg-Lys-Phe Pig Snout Amino Acid Sequence Gene Trait E: Met-Phe-Lys Rat Teeth E: Met-Phe-Asn Tusks F: Met-Gly-Ala-Arg Blue Skin/Hair F: Met-Gly-Arg-Arg Orange Skin/Hair G: Met-Ile-Ile-Leu Long Tail G: Met-Ile-Ile-Val Cotton Tail

Gene A DNA: _____-_____-_____-_____-_____ mRNA: _____-_____-_____-_____-_____ Amino Acids: _____-_____-_____-_____-_____ Trait: ___________________________ Gene B DNA: _____-_____-_____-_____-_____ mRNA: _____-_____-_____-_____-_____ Amino Acids: _____-_____-_____-_____-_____ Trait: ___________________________ Gene C DNA: _____-_____-_____-_____ mRNA: _____-_____-_____-_____ Amino Acids: _____-_____-_____-_____ Trait: ______________________ Gene D DNA: _____-_____-_____-_____-_____-_____ mRNA: _____-_____-_____-______-_____-_____ Amino Acids: _____-_____-_____-_____-_____-_____ Trait: ___________________________ Gene E DNA: _____-_____-_____-_____ mRNA: _____-_____-_____-_____ Amino Acids: _____-_____-_____-_____ Trait: ___________________________ Gene F DNA: _____-_____-_____-_____-_____ mRNA: _____-_____-______-_____-_____ Amino Acids: _____-_____-_____-______-_____ Trait: ___________________________ Gene G DNA: _____-_____-_____-_____-_____ mRNA: _____-_____-_____-_____-_____ Amino Acids: _____-_____-_____-_____-_____ Trait: ___________________________

Amino Amigo Species Name: _____________________________________ Drawing: Draw and name your Amino Amigo based on the traits from the previous page. You can be as creative as you wish with any other aspect of your Amino Amigo, but it must have the specific traits coded for in the gene sequence. Be sure the Amino Amigo’s name is in proper scientific format! (Genus species…example: Elephantus bluwingii) Amino Amigo Species Name: _____________________________________

Mutations: Errors can happen when replicating and transcribing genetic material. These errors are known as MUTATIONS. Mutations can happen due to errors within the cell or outside influences like radiation. Some mutations can change traits coded for in genes while others can prove lethal to the organism. Let’s mutate your Amino Amigo! For Each mutation, write the new DNA sequence. Then be sure to transcribe and translate the sequence to get the new amino acid chain. For new mutated traits, refer to the mutation table on the next page. In Gene A, replace the 6th base with an adenine (A). How did this mutation effect your amino acid sequence? Will this mutation change the function of the gene? In Gene B, delete the 7th base in the sequence. Write the new DNA sequence below. How did this mutation change the number of amino acids in the sequence? Why did this change so drastically? In Gene D, insert the code ACC after the 6th base. How did this mutation change the number of amino acids in the sequence? Why did this change so drastically? In Gene F, change the 10th base to adenine (A). In Gene G, change the 4th base to guanine (G). DNA: _____-_____-_____-_____-_____ mRNA: _____-_____-_____-_____-_____ Amino Acids: _____-_____-_____-_____-_____ DNA: _____-_____-_____-_____-_____ mRNA: _____-_____-_____-_____-_____ Amino Acids: _____-_____-_____-_____-_____ Mutated Trait: ______________________________ DNA: _____-_____-_____-_____-_____-_____-_____ mRNA: _____-_____-_____-_____-_____-_____-_____ Amino Acids: _____-_____-_____-_____-_____-_____-_____ Mutated Trait: ______________________________ DNA: _____-_____-_____-_____-_____ mRNA: _____-_____-_____-_____-_____ Amino Acids: _____-_____-_____-_____-_____ Mutated Trait: ______________________________ DNA: _____-_____-_____-_____-_____ mRNA: _____-_____-_____-_____-_____ Amino Acids: _____-_____-_____-_____-_____ Mutated Trait: ______________________________

Amino Acid Sequence Mutated Trait B: Met-Thr Muscular B: Met-Gly LETHAL D: Met-Gly-Trp-Arg-Lys-Pro Beak D: Met-Gly-Trp-Arg-Lys-Phe Dog Snout F: Met-Gly-Ala Black Hair F: Met-Gly-Arg Purple Hair G: Met-Leu-Ile-Leu Fish Tail G: Met-Leu-Ile-Val Mutated Drawing: Based on the mutated traits from the previous page, draw your mutated Amino Amigo. Do not include lethal mutations on your drawing!

Amino Amigos Code Page Amino Amigos Code Page Name: _______________________ Date: ________________________ Pd. _______ 1 Amino Amigos Code Page Follow these codes for each gene of your Amino Amigo. Use these to transcribe and translate this genetic information into an amino acid sequence. A: TACTGGACCACCATT B: TACTGGCATTCGATC C: TACTCGGCTACT D: TACCCGTCCTTTAAAATC E: TACAAATTTATT F: TACCCGCGTGCTACT G: TACTAGTAGGATATT Name: _______________________ Date: ________________________ Pd. _______ 2 Amino Amigos Code Page Follow these codes for each gene of your Amino Amigo. Use these to transcribe and translate this genetic information into an amino acid sequence. A: TACTGGCCGCCTATT B: TACCCGCATTCGATC C: TACGGGGCTACT D: TACCCGTCCTTTGGGATC E: TACAAATTGATT F: TACCCGGCAGCTACT G: TACTAGTAGCATATT

Amino Amigos Code Page Amino Amigos Code Page Name: _______________________ Date: ________________________ Pd. _______ 3 Amino Amigos Code Page Follow these codes for each gene of your Amino Amigo. Use these to transcribe and translate this genetic information into an amino acid sequence. A: TACTGGCCGCCTATT B: TACCCGCATTCGATC C: TACGGGGCTACT D: TACCCGTCCTTTGGGATC E: TACAAATTGATT F: TACCCGCGTGCTACT G: TACTAGTAGCATATT Name: _______________________ Date: ________________________ Pd. _______ 4 Amino Amigos Code Page Follow these codes for each gene of your Amino Amigo. Use these to transcribe and translate this genetic information into an amino acid sequence. A: TACTGGACCACCATT B: TACTGGCATTCGATC C: TACACCGCTACT D: TACCCGTCCTTTAAAATC E: TACAAATTTATT F: TACCCGGCAGCTACT G: TACTAGTAGGATATT