1. DNA and Proteins In this guide you will be learning about DNA and proteins Presented by Garth Jensen Emerson Middle School A project from AMGEN workshop 2004 Click here to see which standards will be addressed in this guide Click here to go to the navigation page

2. 7 th Grade Standards to be covered in this guide 1c The nucleus contains genetic material 2c Traits are inherited by one or more genes 2d Plant and animal cells contain thousands of genes 2e DNA is the genetic material for living things 3a Genetic variation and environment are causes of evolution and diversity 3c Evidence for evolution includes geology, fossils, comparative anatomy and genetics 3d Students construct a simple branching diagram to classify organisms

3. Click on the buttons below to learn about a particular item What is DNA? What is transcription? What is a protein? What is translation? What is bioinformatics?

4. DNA DNA is a molecule found in all living organisms. It is made of a chain of smaller units called nucleotides. Each nucleotide has three parts, a sugar, a base and a phosphate group. Click here to go to a DNA website

5. Transcription Transcription involves a two step process. First a DNA molecule needs to unzip. Then RNA polymerase makes an mRNA molecule. The mRNA molecule then goes to the ribosomes.

6. Proteins Proteins are used as building blocks for tissues of all living things. Proteins are determined by the DNA sequence of nucleotides. Proteins are made of amino acids. There are twenty amino acids found in all living things. Proteins are made through a process called translation. Click here to view the twenty amino acids

7. Translation The process of translation occurs on the ribosomes. Translation is the making of proteins based on mRNA. Amino acids are carried to the ribosomes by tRNA, the ribosomes join the amino acids together to form proteins.

8. Other websites to investigate DNA http://www.dnai.org/a/index.html Click on Finding the code http://www.dnai.org/a/index.html http://www.dnaftb.org/dnaftb/19/concept/index.html http://www.dnaftb.org/dnaftb/19/concept/index.htmlTranscription http://vcell.ndsu.nodak.edu/~christjo/vcell/ani mationSite/transcription/index.htm http://vcell.ndsu.nodak.edu/~christjo/vcell/ani mationSite/transcription/index.htm http://www.dnai.org/a/index.html http://www.dnai.org/a/index.html Click on copying the code http://www.dnai.org/a/index.html

9. More Sites http://vcell.ndsu.nodak.edu/~christjo/vcell/animat ionSite/translation/index.html http://vcell.ndsu.nodak.edu/~christjo/vcell/animat ionSite/translation/index.htmlTranslation http://www.dnai.org/a/index.html http://www.dnai.org/a/index.html Click on Reading the code http://www.dnai.org/a/index.html

10. Bioinformatics Bioinformatics is the use of technology to organize the vast amounts of information that have been accumulating over recent years. Developments in molecular biology and gene mapping have made it necessary to develop a system where research can be shared easily. Click here to find out how scientists can use bioinformatics in their genetic research

11. Using the Biology Workbench The biology workbench is a tool that people can use to compare the genetics of different organisms. Many organisms have had many of their genes mapped out. This information has been placed into data bases that are able to be accessed by the public.

12. Continued To get an idea of how this tool is used lets say we want to compare a gene for the following nine animals: rabbit, frog, human, pig, mouse, chicken, turkey, eel, and lungfish. We will be using the troponin c gene which is for skeletal muscle. At this time ask your teacher for the biology workbench worksheet. And click below to get to the Biology workbench web site. Then follow the instructions on the paper. Biology Workbench Web site Click here to open the biology workbench worksheet

13. View a troponin C protein Click here to view a troponin c protein molecule Click here to view a troponin c protein molecule