For this project, we started off by doing a strawberry DNA extraction lab to practice analyzing actual DNA in a living organism. After learning about DNA and the role it plays in our lives, we studied the process of protein synthesis along with the stages. Transcription and translation are important concepts to know with this information. We, as a class, took a lot of time in order to understand these steps by translating the DNA into the mRNA sequence. Additionally, we learned about the mutations in DNA and applied this knowledge to the Protein to Disease project. My partner, Sadie, and I decided to research Parkinson's disease. As shown, we saw the mutations in the DNA and RNA sequence and how this disease affects the structure of humans.

Transcription / Translation Virtual Lab

Protein Synthesis Notes

Transcription is the process of copying a segment of DNA into RNA. This is the first stage of protein synthesis.

Translation, the second stage of protein synthesis, is the process in which ribosomes in the cytoplasm or endoplasmic reticulum synthesize proteins.

DNA is the genetic molecule that carries the genetic code and allows for development, functioning, growth, and reproduction.

RNA is a polymeric molecule that helps in the process of protein synthesis.

This is the sequence of three DNA or RNA nucleotides that corresponds with a specific amino acid during protein synthesis.

This is a trinucleotide sequence on a tRNA molecule that bonds to a complementary sequence on an mRNA molecule.

Ribosomes are complex molecules that perform biological protein synthesis. This is where translation takes place.

Amino acids are molecules that make up proteins. They regulate the translation of mRNA.

This is the process by which protein is translated to its 3-dimensional structure in order to properly function. It occurs in four stages: primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary.

This is the process in which cells produce more proteins throughout two stages: transcription and translation.

A disease is the disorder of a structure or functions of an organism caused by genes and/or external factors. The disease that we studied was Parkinson's Disease, which harms the central nervous system in the body.

A mutation is an alteration in the DNA sequence that causes a change in one's genetics. We the different mutations, which are substitution, deletion, and insertion.