Activity sheet: Decoding DNA

Objective: Apply the concept of protein synthesis through the amino acids coded for the mRNA
codon using the genetic code.

Materials:
Pen, Crayons

Procedure:
1. Study the given scenario (see attached activity) and study the profile of the suspects and
additional information.
2. Using your knowledge about DNA and RNA base-pairing, decode the DNA sample in order
to identify the sequence of amino acids. Use the amino acid identifier chart as your reference.
3. Compare the sequence of amino acids (proteins) to the profile of the suspects and
additional information given in order to determine the corresponding traits.
4. Name the culprit using the data or information you got.
5. Using the pencil and crayons make a cartographic sketch of the suspect.

Q1. What amino acids sequences did you get upon decoding the genes?

Nose Hair

Shape of Eyes

Lips

Ear Attachment

Type of Hair

Q2. What are the traits of the culprit based on your data?
Q3. Who among the suspects matches with the sequence of amino acids (proteins) you got?
Q4. Draw the possible appearance of the culprit.

Amino Acid Chart

 DECODING DNA SEGMENT

An intruder razed the science laboratory of a Junior High School. The school is in
chaos. The school administrators and teachers demanded to know the culprit. They have to
identify the culprit and do it fast. They had three suspects namely Rudy Tee, Von Go and
Rambo Tan. As a forensic expert, your mission is to identify the intruder using the profile of
the suspects and other information taken from the laboratory:
THE PROFILE OF THE SUSPECTS
1. Rudy Tee (Suspect 1)
✓ Flunked physics class three times
✓ With long nose hair,
✓ Oval eyes
✓ Full lips
✓ Attached ear lobe
✓ Straight hair
2. Von Go (Suspect 2)
✓ His investigative project is about the potential applications of nuclear fusion
in generating energy.
✓ Short nose hair
✓ Chinky eyes
✓ Full lips
✓ Free earlobe
✓ Curly hair

3. Rambo Tan (Suspect 3)

✓ Suspended for a week by the Disciplinary Committee for repeated tardiness.

✓ Short nose hair

✓ Oval eyes
✓ Harelip
✓ Attached earlobe ✓ Wavy hair

Additional Information:
Below are the specific amino acid sequences for specific trait.

1. Nose Hair Sequence

Short ----- phe-lys

Long ----- leu-lys

2. Shape of Eyes

Oval ----- val-ala-ala

Chinky ----- val-ala-val

3. Lips

Full Lips ----- phe- glu-ala

Harelip ----- phe-lys-ala

 4. Ear Attachment

Free Earlobe ----- thre- tyr-ser

Attached ----- leu-arg-gly

5. Type of Hair

Straight ----- lys-glu

Wavy ----- phe-ala

Curly ----- glu-phe

THE DNA CODE OF THE SUSPECT

A fresh DNA sample was obtained from the laboratory; believe to have been left by
the suspect. Using the DNA sequences, the following nucleotide sequence was obtained:
SUSPECT:
TAC-AAA-TTT-ATC-TAC-AAA-CTT-CGT-ATC-TAC-CAT-CGT-CAT-ATT-TAC-TGG-ATA-
TCG-ATC-TAC-CTT-AAA-ATC

Complementary base pairs: DNA is represented by nitrogen bases that are read in
groups of threes. To decode, use the DNA as a blueprint to produce mRNA. Then use the
mRNA as blueprint to produce the linear sequence of tRNA. A specific nitrogen base in the
DNA pairs up with a specific nitrogen base in the mRNA, and a specific nitrogen base in the
mRNA pairs up with a specific nitrogen base in the tRNA. Breaking the Code:
Complete the data table below:
DNA Triplet Code mRNA tRNA Amino Acid

TAC

AAA

TTT

ATC

TAC

AAA

CTT

CGT

ATC

TAC

CAT

CGT
CAT
 ATT

TAC

TGG

ATA

TCG

ATC

TAC

CTT

AAA

ATC

Characteristics and traits of the suspect based on the DNA code.

1. Nose Hair

2. Eyes

3. Lips

4. Ear Attachment

5. Type of Hair

Name and Draw the cartographic sketch of the suspect in the box: