Mysterious Monster Lab

Background Information:
Genes are the units that determine inherited characteristics, such as hair color
and blood type. Genes are the 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 a process called transcription, which takes place in the nucleus of the cell,
messenger RNA (mRNA) reads and copies' the DNA’s nucleotide sequences in the
form of a complementary RNA molecule. Then the mRNA carries this information
in the form of a code to the ribosome, where protein synthesis takes place. The
code, in DNA or mRNA, specifies the order in which the amino acids are joined
together to form a polypeptide. The code words in mRNA, however, are not
directly recognized by the corresponding amino acids. Another type of RNA called
transfer RNA (tRNA) is needed to bring the mRNA and amino acids together. As
the code carried by mRNA is "read" on a ribosome, the proper tRNAs arrive in
turn and give up the amino acids they carry to the growing polypeptide chain. The
process by which the information from the DNA is transferred into the language of
proteins is known as translation.
In this investigation, the student will simulate the mechanism of protein
synthesis and thereby determine the traits inherited by the fictitious organism
called the Mysterious Monster (MM) whose cells contain only one chromosome. Its
chromosome is made up of 6 genes (A, B, C, D, E, and F), each of which is
responsible for a certain trait.

Problem Questions:
1) What is determined by the DNA base sequence on a chromosome?
2) How can the amino acid sequence determine the characteristics of an
organism?
3) If there is a change in the DNA sequence, what are the possible effects?

Procedure:
1) To determine the trait for gene A of your MM, fill in the information in the box
labeled Gene A in the Data Table. Notice the sequence of nucleotides in the
DNA. In the space provided, write the sequence of nucleotides of mRNA that are
complementary to DNA.

2) In order to determine the sequence of amino acids, match each mRNA codon
with the specific amino acid in Figure 1. Using a hyphen (-) to separate each
amino acid number, record this information in the appropriate place in the Data
Table.

3) Using Figure 2, find the trait that matches the amino acid sequence. Record this
information in the appropriate place in the Data Table.

4) Repeat steps 1-3 for the remaining genes. (B through F).

5) Using all of your inherited traits, sketch your MM in the space provided.
 The Genetic Code (mRNA)

Mysterious Monster Lab

Amino Acid
mRNA Codon Number Amino Acid Sequence Trait
15 15:11:13 Hairless
UGG
UCG 15
14 15:12:13 Curly Hair
GCU 2
15:12:10 1 Leg
UUG 4
GCG 3 13:14:15 2 Legs
CCC 5 13:2 Tusks (like elephants)
UCC 7 12:7:8 Fangs
UUU 8
5:7:6:3 5 Eyes
AAA 9
CCA 12 9:8 Warts on Body
AUA 13 9:4 Scales (like fish)
GGG 1 11:3:2 Orange Skin
UAG 6
11:3:3 Green Skin
GAU 10
CCU 11 6:6:10 Wings
7:7:14 Protruding Eyes (stick out
of head)
Figure 2
 Figure 1

Data Table (I)

Gene A Gene B Gene C
DNA GGA CGC CGA DNA AGG AGG AGC DNA ACC GGA TAT
mRNA mRNA mRNA
Amino Amino Amino
Acid Acid Acid
Sequence Sequence Sequence
Observed Observed Observed
Trait Trait Trait

Gene D Gene E Gene F

DNA TAT CGA DNA ACC GGT CTA DNA TTT AAC
mRNA mRNA mRNA
Amino Amino Amino
Acid Acid Acid
Sequence Sequence Sequence
Observed Observed Observed
Trait Trait Trait

Mysterious Monster Portrait

Data Table (II)
Gene A Gene B Gene C
DNA GGA CGC CGC DNA GGG AGG ATC CGC DNA ACC GGA TAT
mRNA mRNA mRNA
Amino Amino Amino
Acid Acid Acid
Sequence Sequence Sequence
Observed Observed Observed
Trait Trait Trait

Gene D Gene E Gene F

DNA TAT CGA DNA TAT AGC ACC DNA TTT AAA
mRNA mRNA mRNA
Amino Amino Amino
Acid Acid Acid
Sequence Sequence Sequence
Observed Observed Observed
Trait Trait Trait

Mysterious Monster Portrait

Data Table (III)
Gene A Gene B Gene C
DNA GGA CGC CGA DNA GGG AGG ATC CGC DNA ACC GGT TAT
mRNA mRNA mRNA
Amino Amino Amino
Acid Acid Acid
Sequence Sequence Sequence
Observed Observed Observed
Trait Trait Trait

Gene D Gene E Gene F

DNA GGT AGG AAA DNA ATC ATC CTA DNA TTT AAC
mRNA mRNA mRNA
Amino Amino Amino
Acid Acid Acid
Sequence Sequence Sequence
Observed Observed Observed
Trait Trait Trait

Mysterious Monster Portrait

Data Table (IV)
Gene A Gene B Gene C
DNA GGA CGC CGC DNA AGG AGG AGC DNA ACC GGT TAT
mRNA mRNA mRNA
Amino Amino Amino
Acid Acid Acid
Sequence Sequence Sequence
Observed Observed Observed
Trait Trait Trait

Gene D Gene E Gene F

DNA GGT AGG AAA DNA TAT AGC ACC DNA TTT AAA
mRNA mRNA mRNA
Amino Amino Amino
Acid Acid Acid
Sequence Sequence Sequence
Observed Observed Observed
Trait Trait Trait

Mysterious Monster Portrait

Name______________________________________________ Period _________

Analysis Questions for Assessment of

Mysterious Monster Lab

ANALYSIS QUESTIONS:

1. Label the diagram of the DNA nucleotide shown below. Use the terms base, deoxyribose,
and phosphate.

2. Give the base sequence of the complementary DNA strand for the strand below

Original DNA strand: TAC - GCC - AGT - GGT - TCG – CAC - ACT
Complementary strand:

3. Give the base sequence of the strand of mRNA read from the original DNA
strand.
Original DNA strand:TAC - GCC - AGT - GGT - TCG – CAC - ACT

mRNA (Use U’s no T’s):

4. Using the mRNA codon wheel or chart, give the amino acid sequence of the protein
fragment coded for by this mRNA.

5. If the fourth nucleotide (base) in the original DNA strand were changed from G to C, what
would the base sequence of the resulting mRNA?

Original DNA strand: TAC - GCC - AGT - GGT - TCG –CAC - ACT

mRNA, after change:

6. What would be the amino add (protein) sequence resulting from this change? (Use codon
chart)
7. If a point mutation in the original DNA strand causes the 6th nucleotide (base) to be
replaced with a G, what would be the mRNA sequence?

Original DNA strand: TAC - GCC - AGT - GGT - TCG - CAC - ACT
new mRNA:

8. What would the resulting amino acid sequence be? (Use codon chart)

9. If a G were added to the original DNA strand to create a mutation after the third nucleotide
(base), what would be the resulting mRNA sequence?
G
Original DNA strand: TAC - GCC - AGT - GGT - TCG - CAC - ACT
new mRNA:

10. Why is this type mutation called an insertion?

11. What would be the resulting amino acid sequence following the insertion in #9? (Use
codon chart)

12. If the 8th nucleotide (base) in the original DNA strand were mutated from G to C, what
would be the resulting mRNA sequence?

Original DNA strand: TAC - GCC - AGT - GGT - TCG – CAC- ACT
new mRNA:

13. What would be the resulting amino acid sequence? (or codon chart)

14. How would this change affect the production of this protein?

15. Use the following terms to label the lettered diagram below:

transcription replication translation

DNA — (A) —— >DNA — (B) —— >mRNA —— (C) —— > protein

(A) ________________ (B) ________________ (C) _______________