Lesson Title: DNA Structure and Protein Synthesis 04/15/2021

Bio Only
Connector: Questions on prior learning linked to Answers:
todays lesson:
Gene: A gene is a section of DNA which
Recall and Retention controls part of a cell's chemistry - particularly
1.What do you already know about DNA? protein production.
Allele: each of two or more alternative forms
of a gene that arise by mutation and are found
Challenge: For each key word draw a diagram to at the same place on a chromosome.
help you remember them
Chromosome: The structure made of DNA that
codes for all the characteristics of an organism.
Nucleotides: The units or molecules of which
DNA or RNA is composed
Polynucleotides: a chain of repeating units of
“nueceotides”.
 Learning Outcomes
• Describe how the four bases make up a code
• Explain why the correct folding of a protein is important to its function
• Describe the steps involved in producing a protein inside the cell.
• Discuss possible issues surrounding genome sequencing.
• Explain how the order of bases determines the type of protein made.
 AQA spec link:
6.1.5 Students should be able to describe
• DNA as a polymer made from four different nucleotides. Each nucleotide consists of a common sugar and phosphate group with one of four
different bases attached to the sugar.
• DNA contains four bases, A, C, G, and T.
• A sequence of three bases is the code for a particular amino acid. The order of bases controls the order in which amino acids are assembled to
produce a particular protein.
• The long strands of DNA consist of alternating sugar and phosphate sections. Attached to each sugar is one of the four bases.
• The DNA polymer is made up of repeating nucleotide units.
• Students should be able to:
• • recall a simple description of protein synthesis
• • explain simply how the structure of DNA affects the protein made

• • describe how genetic variants may influence phenotype: a) in coding DNA by altering the activity of a protein: and b) in non-coding DNA by
altering how genes are expressed.
• In the complementary strands a C is always linked to a G on the opposite strand and a T to an A.
• Students are not expected to know or understand the structure of mRNA, tRNA, or the detailed structure of amino acids or proteins.
• Students should be able to explain how a change in DNA structure may result in a change in the protein synthesised by a gene.
• Proteins are synthesised on ribosomes, according to a template. Carrier molecules bring specific amino acids to add to the growing protein
chain in the correct order.
• When the protein chain is complete it folds up to form a unique shape. This unique shape enables the proteins to do their job as enzymes,
 Bio Only
The section of your
Checklist we are covering
today
 Proteins Recall and Rention
Proteins are made of long chains of amino acids. There are 20 different types of
amino acid from which to make proteins.

protein
molecule 1

amino acids

What happens if the amino acids are in a different order?

protein
molecule 2

Different combinations 12:20

of amino acids make different proteins.
 Recall and retention
How do nucleotides make proteins
A three-base (triplet/ codon) sequence codes for each
amino acid. base sequence amino acid

12:20
 Changes in proteins
1. What is a mutation?
Random/spontaneous change in the DNA
2. Name some factors which can cause a mutation?
Carcinogens, UV light, Tobacco,
3. How can a mutation lead to a different protein being produced?
If a mutation occurs its changes the gene, it will code for a different
amino acid and then the call makes a different protein.
Challenge – Explain the different types of mutations that can occur
in the body
 New Information for Learning Outcome 2

• The genetic code is the sequence of bases that code for each amino acid
• There are 20 amino acids.

• How many amino acids make up the following code:

• AAATATCTCCCCGCATGGTACTCCTTTTGACGC

12:20
 New Information for Learning Outcome 2

• Use the Table to find the

amino acid sequence for
the following code:

• AAA TAT CTC CCC GCA

TGG TAC TCC TTT CGC
TGA

12:20
 04/15/2021
DNA is a polymer
DNA is a polymer. The monomer units
of DNA are nucleotides, and the polymer is
known as a "polynucleotide."

Each nucleotide consists of a 5-

carbon sugar (deoxyribose), a
nitrogen containing base attached to
the sugar, and a phosphate group.
 DNA detail
Some facts:
- It is made of four different nucleotides that consist of a _____ and
phosphate group
- It contains instructions on what a ____ does, how the organism should
work etc
- The code is made up from the four ____ that hold the strands together
with weak hydrogen bonds
- A sequence of three bases represent the order in which _____ acids are
assembled to make specific ________
- The DNA polymer is made up of repeating ________ units
- In the complementary strands, a C is always linked to a G and a T is
always linked to an A

Words – amino, sugar, bases, cell, proteins, nucleotide

04/15/2021
 DNA detail feedback
Some facts:
- It is made of four different nucleotides that consist of a sugar and
phosphate group
- It contains instructions on what a cell does, how the organism should
work etc
- The code is made up from the four bases that hold the strands together
with weak hydrogen bonds
- A sequence of three bases represent the order in which amino acids are
assembled to make specific protein.
Green Pen Marking
- The DNA polymer is made up of repeating nucleotide units
- In the complementary strands, a C is always linked to a G and a T is
always linked to an A

04/15/2021 Words – amino, sugar, bases, cell, proteins, nucleotide

 Extracting DNA
Practical: Extracting DNA from kiwi fruits
 Base pairs
• Each strand of DNA is made of chemicals called bases. Note that these are
different to bases in relation to acids and alkalis in chemistry. There are four
different bases in DNA:

• thymine, T
• adenine, A
• guanine, G
• cytosine, C
 Base pairs
• There are chemical bonds between the two strands in DNA, formed by pairs of
bases. They always pair up in a particular way, called complementary base
pairing:

• thymine pairs with adenine (T–A)

• guanine pairs with cytosine (G–C).
 Protein synthesis
• Watch the video and make notes
• https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p052b5rx
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG7uCskUOrA
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oefAI2x2CQM
 DNA
Transcription Occurs in the Nucleus

mRNA
Occurs in the
Translation
cytoplasm
Protein
What is mRNA?
When a polypeptide is required, the triplet code of its gene is
converted into a molecule of messenger RNA (mRNA).

This process is called transcription and is the first stage of

protein synthesis.

Like DNA, mRNA is a nucleic

acid, but it differs in that:
 it is single stranded,
not double stranded
 it contains ribose instead of
mRNA strand
deoxyribose
during
 it contains uracil instead of thymine. transcription

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 Transcription
• DNA Unwinds (untwists from a double helix)

• RNA Polymerase makes a copy of DNA called mRNA

• Messenger RNA (mRNA) leaves nucleus and goes to ribosome (the site of protein
synthesis)
 A A T C A A T A G
T T A G A T A T C

Transcription takes place inside the

nucleus.
Part of a DNA unwinds.
 Only one strand acts as a template.

A A T C A A T A G

U
U G U C
A
U A
G
G C G
 Exposed base attracts complementary RNA.

A A T C A A T A G
RNA
POLYMERASE

U
U G U C
A
U A
G
G C G
 A A T C A A T A G
U U
G U C
A
U A

G
G C G

The enzyme RNA polymerase adds one complementary RNA nucleotide to the
existing one.
 A A T C A A T A G
U U

G U C
A
U A
G
G C G

The enzyme RNA polymerase moves along the DNA.

The enzyme RNA polymerase moves along the DNA.

A A T C A A T A G
U U A

G U C

U A
G
G C G
 A A T C A A T A G
U U A G

U C

U A
G
G C G
Complementary RNA nucleotide is added to the growing chain of
mRNA one by one.
 A A T C A A T A G
U U A G U

U A
G
G C G
Complementary RNA nucleotide is added to the growing chain of
mRNA one by one.
 A A T C A A T A G
U U A G U U

A
G
G C G
Complementary RNA nucleotide is added to the growing chain of
mRNA one by one.
 A A T C A A T A G
U U A G U U A

A
G
G C G
Complementary RNA nucleotide is added to the growing chain of
mRNA one by one.
 A A T C A A T A G
U U A G U U A U

G
G C G
Complementary RNA nucleotide is added to the growing chain of
mRNA one by one.
 A A T C A A T A G
U U A G U U A U C

G
G C G
Complementary RNA nucleotide is added to the growing chain of
mRNA one by one.
 A A T C A A T A G
U U A G U U A U C

G
G C G
Complementary RNA nucleotide is added to the growing chain of
mRNA one by one.
Transcription and codons
During transcription, the mRNA is built up by complementary
base pairing, using the DNA as a template. The DNA’s base
triplets are converted into mRNA codons.

What are the codons in the mRNA transcribed from this

sequence of DNA base triplets?

DNA TAC GCA GAT TAC

mRNA AUG CGU CUA AUG

The genetic code is non-overlapping: each base is only

part of one triplet/codon, and each triplet/codon codes just
one amino acid.

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 NUCLEOPLASM

A A T C A A T A G
U U A G U U A U C

mRNA

CYTOLPLASM
Nuclear pore

mRNA leaves the nucleus through the nuclear pore.

 NUCLEOPLASM

A A T C A A T A G

CYTOLPLASM

U U A G U U A U C

mRNA
mRNA leaves the nucleus through the nuclear pore.
What is translation?
Once a molecule of mRNA has been transcribed, it moves
out of the nucleus via a nuclear pore.

ribosome
In the cytoplasm, the
mRNA combines with a
ribosome – the cellular
structure on which the
polypeptide chain will
be built in a process
called translation. mRNA
strand
How are the correct amino acids transported to the ribosome,
and how are they linked together in the correct order?

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What is tRNA?
In the cytoplasm, amino acids become attached to transfer
RNA (tRNA) molecules. Each tRNA is specific for one amino
acid.
amino acid
3’ end
Each tRNA molecule attachment site
has a sequence of 5’ end
three bases called an
anticodon. These hydrogen bond
are complementary
to codons on the
mRNA molecule.

What is the anticodon

nucleotides
for the codon A U G?
UAC
anticodon
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 tRNAs
Leucine Amino Acid

A A U Anti-Codon
 CYTOLPLASM

U U A G A U A U C

mRNA
 tRNA Aspartic
Acid
tRNA Leucine

C U A
RIBOSOME A A U

U U A G A U A U C
mRNA

mRNA attaches to the ribosome.

 tRNA Aspartic
Leucine
Acid

tRNA

Ribosome C U A
A A U
U U A G A U A U C
mRNA

Complementary anticodon of the tRNA is attracted to the codon of the

mRNA .
 Threonine

Leucine Aspartic
Acid

U A G

A A U C U A
U U A G A U A U C

Complementary anticodon of the tRNA is attracted to the codon of the

mRNA .
 Peptide Bond

Threo
nine
Leucine Aspartic
Acid

U A
G
A A U C U A
U U A G A U A U C

Peptide bond forms between the two adjacent amino acids.

 Leucine
Aspartic Threonine
Acid

A A U C U A U A G
U U A G A U A U C

Ribosome moves along the mRNA. Another complementary tRNA is

attracted to the codon. The first tRNA is released back to cytoplasm.
 Peptide Bond

Leucine
Aspartic Threonine
Acid

A A U C U A U A G
U U A G A U A U C

Amino acid is linked to the previous amino acids with peptide bond.
 Leucine
Aspartic Threonine
Acid

A A
U C U A U A G
U U A G A U A U C

A tripetide is formed.
 Leucine
Asparti
c
Threon
Acid in e

A
A U
C U A
U A G

U U A G A U A U C

mRNA and tripeptide are released to cytoplasm.

What happens during translation?
tRNA molecules attach to the ribosome,
and their anticodons pair up with the
appropriate codons on the mRNA.

The amino acids transported by the

tRNA link together, and the tRNA
molecules then return to the cytoplasm.

The ribosome moves along

the mRNA, and amino acids
continue to join together until
all the codons have been
translated and the
polypeptide is complete.

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Stages of protein synthesis

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From DNA to amino acids

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The genetic code
Challenge
• What effect will a mutation have on the rate at which an enzyme can
catalyse a reaction.
• Give examples of specific enzymes (1 in an animal and 1 in a plant)
• Use diagrams to explain this
Lets apply what you have learnt to some past exam
paper questions
Homework
• Research 3 different proteins inside the body and explain their
function (1 must be structural and the other must be functional)
• Work through questions protein synthesis in your workbook

• Due date:
End of Lesson Review

• Go through the specification and make your annotations on the spec

• Is there any part of the lesson you think you need to go over again next lesson?
• How will you remember what you have learned today for your exam?
• Has this lesson made you reflect on Spiritual, Moral, Social or Cultural issues?

• Quick fire question round.  All students to make up 3 questions based on todays lessons
and ask their peers.