Name: _____________________________ Date: _______________

Section: ___________________

Activity
Trace the Code
Objectives:

Identify the amino acids coded for the mRNA codon using the Genetic Code Table.

Materials:

Genetic Code
Activity Sheets

Procedure:

1. Refer to the Genetic Code Table to identify the Amino acid.

2. To determine the order of bases in the first column (DNA), second column (codon), and
third column (anticodon), consider thecomplementary base pairs in DNA: adenine pairs
with thyamine and guanine pairs with cytosine. While in RNA, adenine pairs with uracil
and guanine pairs with cytosine
3. To identify the amino acid, look at the bases in the mRNA codon, e.g., AUG using the
Genetic Code Table.Look for the first letter of the mRNA codoc on the left side of the
genetic code table (A), the second letter of the mRNA on the second column (U), and the
third letter on the right side column (G), AUG codes for the amino acid-methionine.
4. Do the same with the other codons in the chart.

Amino acids
Order of Bases in Order of Bases in Order of Base in
Coded into
DNA mRNA (codon) tRNA (anticodon)
proteins
TAG AUC

CAT
GUC
GCA
Methionine
Valine
ACU
ACA UGU
AAA
GAA CUU