1. How do we get actual traits from our genes and DNA?
Protein Synthesis

2. What we know:
DNA consists of A, T, C and G’s (about 3 billion of them!) in a double helix structure.
Our traits are passed down to us from both parents when sperm and eggs are made during meiosis.
In most cases, we can determine the probability of getting certain traits by using a Punnett square.
Proteins are one of the 4 carbon compounds and are made up of amino acids. They make up most of our bodies.

3. What we know from the homework:
Characteristics of DNA Characteristics of RNA
# of strands: two # of strands: one
Name of sugar: Name of sugar:
deoxyribose ribose
Bases involved: Bases involved:
ATCG (thymine) AUCG (uracil)
Location: nucleus Location: nucleus to cytoplasm

4. Example strands: DNA: ATC CTA GAT TAC GCC TAG GAT CTA ATG CGG
RNA: AUC CUA GAU UAC CGG
3 Types of RNA:
mRNA: carries the message from the DNA to the ribosome
tRNA: transfers the correct amino acid to the ribosome to make a protein
rRNA: makes up the ribosomes

5. So…how do we actually get our traits?
Problem: Our DNA cannot leave the nucleus.
Why not?
How do we get proteins out of DNA letters?
Which organelle makes proteins?

6. Protein Synthesis Part 1: Transcription Occurs in the nucleus
Copies DNA into mRNA so it can leave the nucleus
Copy this DNA strand into mRNA.
ACT CAT TAT CCT GAC TAC

7. Protein Synthesis Part 2: Translation
The mRNA strand moves to the ribosome
The ribosome “reads” the mRNA codons
The tRNA brings the correct amino acid to the ribosome
The amino acids combine to form a protein