Protein Synthesis Role Play
Synopsis:
After the teacher introduces protein synthesis to
the
students roles are assigned and students playing different parts of
protein
synthesis translate hemoglobin.
Materials:
- 32 laminated tRNA molecules (file
Protein Synthesis Activity – tRNA)
- 32 Laminated Amino Acids (file Protein
Synthesis Activity - Amino Acids)
- Tape
- DNA strand for Hemoglobin (file Protein Synthesis Activity
– Codes.htm)
- tRNA anticodons (file Protein
Synthesis Activity – Codes.htm)
Setup:
- Take 32 tRNA pictures and write the
anticodons 1-32 in the three blocks at the bottom.
- Take the 32 amino acids and tape them
to their tRNA. (file Protein Synthesis Activity – Codes.htm). I write
the name of the amino acid on the back tRNA that it codes to simplify
putting it back together later on.
- Print out the file Protein Synthesis
Activity – Codes.htm
for your own use
Instructions:
- Describe protein synthesis to the
students.
- Write the DNA code for the student on
the board (file Protein Synthesis Activity – Codes.htm).
- Describe the cell location of
transcription.
- Block off codons and assign them to
students to transcribe.
- After all transcription has taken
place pass out the tRNAs with their amino acids attached.
- Choose a student to be the ribosome or
you are the ribosome.
- Describe the cell location of protein
synthesis.
- Have the ribosome read the mRNA code
and ask the students “who has the tRNA match for the code”
- Have the student come up with his/her
tRNA and stand at the board.
- Do this for two codons
- Bond the first amino acid to the
second with tape (describing what is happening)
- Have the first tRNA sit back down.
- Repeat until finished at STOP
- Describe how Methionine is cut off and
then wrap the protein around to fold to describe different levels of
protein structure.