Game Components

Whenever I approached teaching protein synthesis, I always felt a surge of excitement. The two processes involved—transcription and translation—always seemed intuitive to me, almost like a game. DNA, confined within the nucleus, has to create a special messenger, mRNA, to carry genetic codes or instructions to the ribosomes, where the actual construction of proteins, crucial molecules for our cells and bodies, takes place. In translation, particularly in the decoding phase, we typically use a decoding chart to interpret the mRNA message and identify the sequence of amino acids that will form the protein chain.

Given the intricacies of the content, I decided to divide the game into two distinct parts: a building scenario and a code-matching scenario. The decoding chart we typically use in teaching protein synthesis can be somewhat complex without a prior understanding of complementary base pairing and the role of tRNA in creating complementary triplets of bases (anticodons). Teaching at the high school level, I aimed to enhance the game further by introducing "event cards" that simulate normal malfunctions in the "machinery" of protein synthesis or environmental fluctuations in the cell that impact the processes. Additionally, I planned to incorporate Regents-based questions within the game to prompt critical thinking and application of knowledge among the students.

By answering questions correctly, students earn ATP points, which are necessary to power these cellular processes. Since every base bond created in the cell consumes a bit of ATP, I wanted ATP to serve as the main source in the game. This setup emphasizes the importance of ATP in biological processes, aligning the gameplay with the educational goal of synthesizing a correct protein chain that corresponds to the chosen gene. This approach not only makes learning interactive but also helps students understand the energy requirements and molecular complexity involved in protein synthesis.

Game Components

Protein Quest Components/ Game Elements

4 DNA player pawns

12 mRNA bases (each A, U, C, G)

ATP point tokens

?? Transcription Question Cards

4 tRNAs

Translation Cards

20 Amino acid tokens

4 Gene sequences

Player Pawns

DNA strands to use throughout the game to move across the board. I choose DNA to remind players of the importance the genetic code has on molecular processes.