1. DNA and Transcription Tutorial
Place your keyboard aside. Only use the mouse.

2. Genes and DNA
DNA can be divided into segments called genes. It is estimated that human DNA is composed of ~25,000 genes among its 46 total chromosomes.
Quick Review. What is the monomer of a protein?
monosaccharide
nucleotides
amino acid
fatty acid

3. Genes Correct. Amino acids link to create proteins.
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Genes
Correct. Amino acids link to create proteins.
Genes (small sections of DNA) are blueprints to make proteins for use throughout the body. Genes are found inside the nucleus of cells, but proteins are created outside of the nucleus.
Quick review. Which organelle creates proteins?
mitochondria
chloroplast
lysosome
ribosome

4. Meet Melissa Yes! Ribosomes make proteins.
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Yes! Ribosomes make proteins.
Melissa is an architect and has designed a new high-rise apartment complex.
The construction blueprint holds the information needed to create the high-rise apartment complex.
A gene is like the construction blueprints. The gene holds the information needed to make a protein.
Quick Review. Which cells contain the diploid chromosome number?
Nerve cells
Egg cells
Sperm cells
All cells

5. Transcription
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Correct! Let’s move on though…
The DNA undergoes a process called transcription. Transcription is the process where the DNA code of a gene is used to make a molecule called messenger RNA (mRNA).
Examine the picture. The red letters are DNA nucleotides. The green letters are mRNA being created. Notice how mRNA nucleotides are attaching to the DNA sequence.
Quick review: Where is DNA stored?
Cytoplasm
Vesicle
Nucleus
Vacuole

6. Transcription (continued)
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Yes, the nucleus stores DNA.
Remember that transcription will make mRNA. Here’s how. An enzyme called RNA Polymerase breaks apart the bonds that holds the 2 strands of DNA nucleotides together. T A C A G G T A T G T C C A
Key
Nitrogen base
sugar
phosphate

7. Transcription (continued)
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Remember that transcription will make mRNA. Here’s how. An enzyme called RNA Polymerase breaks apart the bonds that holds the 2 strands of DNA nucleotides together.
One by one, the RNA polymerase moves down the DNA chain. T A C A G G T
RNA polymerase A T G T C C A
Key
Nitrogen base
sugar
phosphate

8. Transcription (continued)
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Transcription (continued)
Remember that transcription will make mRNA. Here’s how. An enzyme called RNA Polymerase breaks apart the bonds that holds the 2 strands of DNA nucleotides together.
One by one, the RNA polymerase moves down the DNA chain. T A C A G G T
RNA polymerase T G T C C A A
Key
Nitrogen base
sugar
phosphate

9. Transcription (continued)
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Remember that transcription will make mRNA. Here’s how. An enzyme called RNA Polymerase breaks apart the bonds that holds the 2 strands of DNA nucleotides together.
One by one, the RNA polymerase moves down the DNA chain. T A C A G G T
RNA polymerase G T C C A A T
Key
Nitrogen base
sugar
phosphate

10. Transcription (continued)
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Remember that transcription will make mRNA. Here’s how. An enzyme called RNA Polymerase breaks apart the bonds that holds the 2 strands of DNA nucleotides together.
One by one, the RNA polymerase moves down the DNA chain. T A C A G G T
RNA polymerase T C C A A T G
Key
Nitrogen base
sugar
phosphate

11. Transcription (continued)
back
Remember that transcription will make mRNA. Here’s how. An enzyme called RNA Polymerase breaks apart the bonds that holds the 2 strands of DNA nucleotides together.
One by one, the RNA polymerase moves down the DNA chain. T A C A G G T
RNA polymerase C C A A T G T
Key
Nitrogen base
sugar
phosphate

12. Transcription (continued)
back
Remember that transcription will make mRNA. Here’s how. An enzyme called RNA Polymerase breaks apart the bonds that holds the 2 strands of DNA nucleotides together.
One by one, the RNA polymerase moves down the DNA chain. T A C A G G T
RNA polymerase C A A T G T C
Key
Nitrogen base
sugar
phosphate

13. Transcription (continued)
back
Remember that transcription will make mRNA. Here’s how. An enzyme called RNA Polymerase breaks apart the bonds that holds the 2 strands of DNA nucleotides together.
One by one, the RNA polymerase moves down the DNA chain. T A C A G G T
RNA polymerase A A T G T C C
Key
Nitrogen base
sugar
phosphate

14. Transcription (continued)
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Now that the DNA has been separated, free-floating mRNA nucleotides bond to the now open DNA nucleotides. T A C A G G T
RNA polymerase A T G T C C A

15. Transcription Rules
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Now that the DNA has been separated, free-floating mRNA nucleotides bond to the now open DNA nucleotides.
When performing transcription, remember the table below.
DNA
mRNA A U T C G

16. Predicting Transcription
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Use the transcription table to predict which mRNA nucleotide will match the DNA nucleotide. T A C A G G T A A U
Click one C G A T G T C C A

17. Predicting Transcription
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Use the transcription table to predict which RNA nucleotide will match the DNA nucleotide. T A C A G G T A U A U
Click one C G A T G T C C A

18. Predicting Transcription
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Use the transcription table to predict which RNA nucleotide will match the DNA nucleotide. T A C A G G T A U G A U
Click one C G A T G T C C A

19. Predicting Transcription
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Use the transcription table to predict which RNA nucleotide will match the DNA nucleotide. T A C A G G T A U G U A U
Click one C G A T G T C C A

20. Predicting Transcription
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Predicting Transcription
Use the transcription table to predict which RNA nucleotide will match the DNA nucleotide. T A C A G G T A U G U C A U
Click one C G A T G T C C A

21. Predicting Transcription
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Predicting Transcription
Use the transcription table to predict which RNA nucleotide will match the DNA nucleotide. T A C A G G T A U G U C C A U
Click one C G A T G T C C A

22. Predicting Transcription
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Use the transcription table to predict which RNA nucleotide will match the DNA nucleotide. T A C A G G T A U G U C C A A U
Click one C G A T G T C C A

23. Predicting Transcription
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Now that the mRNA is complete, it will detach from the DNA…
Exit the nucleus… And then hook up with a ribosome. T A C A G G T A U G U C C A A T G T C C A

24. Predicting Transcription
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Now that the mRNA is complete, it will detach from the DNA…
Exit the nucleus… And then hook up with a ribosome. T A C A G G T A U G U C C A A T G T C C A

25. Fate of the DNA? Once the mRNA breaks away, the DNA will recombine.
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Fate of the DNA?
Once the mRNA breaks away, the DNA will recombine. T A C A G G T A T G T C C A

26. Fate of the DNA? Once the mRNA breaks away, the DNA will recombine.
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Fate of the DNA?
Once the mRNA breaks away, the DNA will recombine. T A C A G G T A T G T C C A

27. back
The final stage.
Remember Melissa? Her blueprint for the apartment complex needs to be copied and then taken to the construction site. In this analogy, Melissa would fax the blueprints over to the construction site. The fax would be the mRNA. The construction site is the ribosome.
Now that a copy of the blueprint has arrived, the construction team can begin to build the apartment complex. In a cell, now that the mRNA has arrived, the ribosome has the instructions to begin to make a protein.

28. The final stage. mRNA makes a copy of the DNA…
back A U G U C C A
ribosome
mRNA makes a copy of the DNA…
the mRNA exits the nucleus…
the mRNA links up with a ribosome.
Once at the ribosome, the process called translation will begin. Translation is the process where a ribosome builds a protein. The details of translation will be discussed another day. For now, let’s review.

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Final Review #1
What will eventually be created by the DNA code of a gene?
ribosome
protein
nucleolus

30. Ribosomes create proteins.

31. The nucleolus makes ribosomes.

32. Final Review #2 Correct! Now try this one…
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Final Review #2
Correct! Now try this one…
RNA polymerase separates DNA at the start of which process?
transcription
translation
replication

33. Translation is the process which creates proteins.

34. Replication is the process which copies DNA.

35. Final Review #3 Correct. Now try this one…
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Final Review #3
Correct. Now try this one…
RNA polymerase is a type of which organic molecule?
Proteins/ enzyme
Nucleic acid
carbohydrate
lipid

36. Review the table. Monomer Polymer Carbohydrate Monosaccharide
Polysaccharide
Lipid
Fatty acid
Protein
Amino acid
Nucleic Acid
Nucleotide
Nucleic acid
Review the table.

37. Final Review #4 Correct! Now try this one…
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Correct! Now try this one…
Which shows the process of transcription done properly?
Key
Black = DNA
Red = mRNA

38. Remember, the transcription table?
DNA
mRNA A U T C G
Remember, the transcription table?

39. Final Review #5 Correct. Now try this one…
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Final Review #5
Correct. Now try this one…
After exiting the nucleus, where will the finished mRNA travel?
mitochondria
ribosome
nucleolus

40. mRNA does not travel to the mitochondria.

41. The nucleolus is inside the nucleus. This can’t be the answer.

42. Final Review #6 Correct…now try this last one…
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Final Review #6
Correct…now try this last one…
Once arriving at the ribosome, which process will begin next?
replication
transcription
translation

43. Replication makes a copy of DNA. It takes place inside the nucleus.

44. Transcription creates mRNA from DNA. It takes place inside the nucleus.

45. Good job… I hope this tutorial was helpful
Good job… I hope this tutorial was helpful. This will be posted on my website for you to review at any time. Turn in your handout. Feel free to start over if you would like to do some review.

46. Monosaccharides link to create a carbohydrate.

47. Fatty acids link to create a lipid.

48. Nucleotides link to create a nucleic acid.

49. Mitochondria creates ATP energy.

50. Lysosomes destroy microorganisms.

51. Chloroplasts create sugar by photosynthesis.

52. Sex cells (sperm and egg) are always haploid
Sex cells (sperm and egg) are always haploid. Non-sex cells are always diploid.

53. The cytoplasm is the liquid portion inside the cell
The cytoplasm is the liquid portion inside the cell. Most parts float in it…but not the DNA.

54. Vesicles usually contain and transport proteins around the cell.

55. Vacuoles store food and water molecules.

56. DNA
mRNA A U T C G
Review the transcription table and click the return button below.

57. DNA
mRNA A U T C G
Review the transcription table and click the return button below.

58. DNA
mRNA A U T C G
Review the transcription table and click the return button below.

59. DNA
mRNA A U T C G
Review the transcription table and click the return button below.

60. DNA
mRNA A U T C G
Review the transcription table and click the return button below.

61. DNA
mRNA A U T C G
Review the transcription table and click the return button below.

62. DNA
mRNA A U T C G
Review the transcription table and click the return button below.