Life Sciences Practical Task Grade 12 Page 2 Of 9 Vhembe East /March 2021

NSC

INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION

This task consists of TWO Sections.

A. A hands-on activity on protein synthesis. (10)

B. A worksheet on the structure of DNA and DNA Profiling. (30)

ALL SECTIONS MUST BE COMPLETED INDIVIDUALLY UNDER

SUPERVISED CONDITIONS IN THE CLASSROOM.

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SECTION A

How DNA controls the workings of a cell

A gene is a segment of DNA that provides the instructions for making a protein and
proteins influence our characteristics (the way we look). Thus, each gene contains a
specific sequence of nucleotides which gives the instructions for the specific
sequence of amino acids that will be joined together to form a protein. The
sequence of amino acids in the protein determines the structure and function of the
protein.

Question 1 (Individual work only) Instructions

1.1 Use the DNA code on page 5. You will therefore make ONE
polypeptide chain.

1.2 Use the different parts and words from the attachments
supplied to you (pages 5– 7) to illustrate the process of protein
synthesis. Look at the A4 paper and decide where you will
place the nucleus, cytoplasm and ribosome.
Use a scissor to cut them out but do not paste them down yet.

1.3 Go to the nucleus with the mRNA paper strips on page 5 and
transcribe the DNA code from the nucleus to the mRNA
molecule. Place the mRNA code next to the DNA. Place
another copy of the mRNA at the ribosome. (You will therefore
make two exact copies of mRNA)

1.4 Translate the code on the codon and write the anti-codon on
the bottom of each tRNA molecule. Place the tRNA
anticodons in the correct sequence underneath the mRNA on
the A4 paper.

1.5 Use the amino chart (page 8) to look up the amino acids
represented by each anticodon.

1.6 Place the amino acids in their correct sequence next to each
other (underneath the anti-codons) to form a polypeptide chain.
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1.7 Paste everything down. Draw the nucleus and supply labels
of the whole process.

1.8 Write your name and date at the back of the A4 sheet and
hand in for assessment by your teacher.

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Life Sciences Practical Task Grade 12 Page 5 Of 9 Vhembe East /March 2021
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Nuclear membrane

Cytoplasm

DNA code

mRNA codons

_______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______

mRNA codons

_______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ _______

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Life Sciences Practical Task Grade 12 Page 6 Of 9 Vhembe East /March 2021
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tRNA

Amino acids

Alanine Glycine Leucine Serine

Arginine Glutamine Lycine Threonine

Asparagine Glutamic Methionine Tyrosine

acid

Aspartic acid Histidine Phenylalanine Tyrosine

Glutamine Glycine Alanine Serine

Cysteine Isoleucine Proline Valine

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 Life Sciences Practical Task Grade 12 Page 7 Of 9 Vhembe East /March 2021
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Amino acid chart for tRNA

tRNA Amino acid tRNA Amino acid

UUU Phenyl-alanine CCA Proline
UUC Phenyl-alanine CCG Proline
UUA Leucine ACU Threonine
UUG Leucine ACC Threonine
CUU Leucine ACA Threonine
CUC Leucine ACG Threonine
CUA Leucine GCU Alanine
CUG Leucine GCC Alanine
AUU Isoleucine GCA Alanine
AUC Isoleucine GCG Alanine
AUA Methionine UAU Tyrosine
AUG Stop codon UAC Tyrosine
GUU Valine UAA Stop codon
GUC Valine UAG Stop codon
GUA Valine CAU Histidine
GUG Valine CAC Histidine
UCU Serine CAA Glutamine
UCC Serine CAG Glutamine
UCA Serine AAU Asparagine
UCG Serine AAC Asparagine
CCU Proline AAA Lysine
CCC Proline ACG Lysine
GAU Aspartic acid AGU Serine
GAC Aspartic acid AGC Serine
GAA Glutamic acid AGA Arginine
GAG Glutamic acid AGG Arginine
UGU Cysteine GGU Glycine
UGC Cysteine UUC Glycine
UGA Stop codon GGA Glycine
UGG Tryptophan GGG Glycine
CGU Arginine
CGC Arginine
CGA Arginine
CGG Arginine

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Life Sciences Practical Task Grade 12 Page 8 Of 9 Vhembe East /March 2021
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SECTION B

DNA Structure: Complete all answers on this worksheet

QUESTION 2
2.1 The diagram below shows the structure of a DNA molecule. Study
the structure and answer the questions that follow.

2.1.1 On the diagram above:

(a) Circle and label a nucleotide. (2)

(b) Label the sugar molecules and phosphate molecules. (2)
(c) Label the bases that are not already labelled. (2)
(d) Label a base pair. (3)
(e) Label the sugar – phosphate backbones. (2)
(f) Label the weak hydrogen bond. (1)

2.1.2 In a strand of DNA, if the percentage of thymine is 35%, what would

the percentage of cytosine in the same DNA strand be?
_________________________________________________________ (2)

2.1.3 Which nitrogenous base in this molecule will not be found in RNA?
_________________________________________________________ (2)
(16)

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Life Sciences Practical Task Grade 12 Page 9 Of 9 Vhembe East /March 2021
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2.2 The diagram below shows the DNA profiles of six different people.
Study it and answer the questions that follows:

2.2.1 What do the bands in the diagram represent?

____________________________________ (2)

2.2.2 Give the letters of the TWO people who are identical twins.

____________________________________ (2)

2.2.3 Give the letters of the parents of person B.

____________________________________ (2)

2.2.4 Explain your answer in Question 2.3

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________ (4)

2.2.5 Mention TWO uses of DNA profiling

_________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________(2)
2.2.6 State TWO disadvantage of DNA profiling.

_________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________(2) (14)
GRAND TOTAL = [40]

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