The Human Genome
Lab
Project II
Part
1 of 2
Introduction: In this lab, I will introduce to you
one chromosome. This chromosome contains many genes that encode proteins for
different purposes. I will pick eight genes and describe their specific
function.
Results: My
Chromosome was number 21. The eight genes I picked and their descriptions are
as follows:
1) APP (Amyloid Beta (A4) Precursor Protein
Amyloid Beta (A4) Precursor (APP) is a protein that encodes cell’s surface
nerve endings and moves a predecessor protein across the membrane to form
peptides (compound containing two or more amino acids). Some of these peptides
are secreted to activate the transcription of DNA to mRNA while other peptides
form a protein that is found in patient’s brains that are suffering from
Alzheimer’.
2) MIR 155 microRNA 155
MicroRNAs affect the stability and translation
of messenger RNA (mRNA) after the initial transcript from DNA to RNA. mRNA is a
single strand of a DNA code that is converted during the transcription process
of DNA to mRNA. MicroRNA begins as a primary transcript. The microRNA goes
through a process to become a mature microRNA. MicroRNAs’ goal is to target
messenger RNAs by the imperfect pairing with microRNA. The microRNA then gets
rid of the target mRNA.
3) CXADR Coxsackie Virus/Adenovirus
Coxsackie is a virus of the poliomyelitis
(disease of the spinal cord) that causes diseases in humans such as Herpangina,
an infectious disease of children caused by the Coxsackie virus, and epidemic
Pleurodynia, caused by the Coxsackie
virus with symptoms of sudden chest pains, mild fever and recurrence on the
third day of these symptoms (dictionary.com).
4) SOD1 Superoxide Dismutase 1, Soluble
Superoxide Dismutase 1 (SOD1) is known as an
isozyme, because this gene causes a chemical reaction that destroys free
radicals in the body. This gene destroys free radicals by converting them to
oxygen and hydrogen peroxide.
Transient Receptor Potential Caption Channel,
Subfamily M, Member 2 (TRPM2) is a gene that encodes a porous calcium protein and
is a positively charged atom. This protein is regulated within an ADP-ribose (a
sugar obtained through RNA) cell.
6) COL18A1 Collagen, Type XV!!!, Alpha 1
Collagen, Type XVIII, Alpha 1 (COL18A1) is
gene that provides instructions for making a protein that forms collagen XVIII.
Collagen serves as connective tissue between the cells. Three COL18A1 proteins,
alpha 1 subunits, attach to each other to form collage XVIII.
7) S100B S100 Calcium Binding Protein B
S100B is found in the fluid that surrounds the
nucleus (the core of an atom) that regulates many cellular processes like cell
cycle progression and distinction from other cells.
8) TFF1 trefoil factor 1
Trefoil factor 1 (TFF)
is a secretor protein that stabilizes the gastrointestinal mucous membrane and
provides a physical barrier against various harmful agents (nextprot.org).
The gene I liked best out of the eight for
chromosome 21 is SOD1 Superoxide
Dismutase 1, Soluble. I like SOD1 because it destroys unstable free radicals
that harm healthy tissue and can lead to aging and possibly diseases.
Conclusion: The human genome is a sum of a set of
human gene instructions. I learned that these genes are coded for a specific
function in the chromosomes. Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes with many
genes. Each gene in a chromosome is intended for a specific purpose that the
body needs. Learning about the human genome is absolutely beautiful in all its
complexity.
Lab Project II
Part 2 of 2
Introduction:
In
this part of my lab, I took a strand of DNA and transcribed it into mRNA to
form 10 amino acids. Then I took the DNA strand and transcribed the letters
into RNA to form my four complimentary bases. After I had my bases, I
constructed a DNA molecule out of twizzlers and sour patch kids.
Procedure: The strand of
DNA I had to work with contained 70 letters: A, C, G and T. These letters
represent the complementary bases. A=Adenine, C=Cytosine, G=Guanine and
T=Thymine. I first transcribed the DNA into mRNA. The difference between DNA
and mRNA is that mRNA does not use Thymine, but Uracil. To transcribe DNA into
mRNA the complimentary bases are as follows T pairs with A, A pairs with U, C
pairs with G and G pairs with C. After I transcribed my DNA into mRNA, I can
now splice the mRNA up into three successive base pairs, which represent a codon. A codon is three adjacent letters that are called
nucleotides and the code for specific amino acids in the synthesis of a protein
molecule. After I found my ten amino acids, I went back to my original
DNA and transcribed it into RNA. For this I used the complimentary bases as
follows A pairs with T, T pairs with A, C pairs with G and G pairs with A. I am
now ready to create my DNA molecule. The materials I used were red and black
twizzlers for my double helix. Red twizzer represents phosphate (the backbone)
and the black twizzlers represents the deoxyribone (sugar molecule). For my
four base pairs, I used multi-colored sour cabbage patch kids. Orange
represents Adenine, Green represents Guanine, Yellow represents Thymine and Red
represents Cytosine. To begin constructing my DNA molecule I first started with
one side of the helix. I alternated 30 colors of black and red twizzlers, which
were cut into one-inch pieces. I started and ended with black, which represents
Deoxyribone the sugar molecule. I used a piece of string to tie knots on both
ends of the twizzler strand. Next, I put together my base pairs. The toothpicks
represents the hydrogen bonding in between the base pairs. Hydrogen bonds are
what hold the double helix together. I attached each complementary base to the
phosphate (red twizzler). After I completed my base pairs, I constructed the
other side of the helix, which looks identical to the first side. I connected the complementary base pairs to the other half of the helix forming a double helix and twisted the ladder to represent a DNA
molecule. The result was a DNA molecule representing the ten amino acids.
Results: My Original DNA strand is as follows:
·
DNA Strand :
ACC CTC CCG CCT GTT GTT GGA GCA TCT GGT TGG GGG CCT CTG
GCC
TAG AGA ACC TTT GTC
CTC TGG GGC A
TGG GAG GGC GGA CAA CAA CCT CGT AGA CCA ACC CCC GGA GAC
CGG ATC TCT TGG
AAA CAG GAG ACC CCG T
·
Transcribed DNA into
mRNA by using the base pairs: A=U, G=C, C=G and T=A
UGG GAG GGC GGA CAA CAA CCU CGU AGA CCA ACC
CCC GGA GAC
CGG AUC UCU UGG AAA
CAG GAG ACC CCG U
After I transcribed the DNA into the mRNA, I was now able to take
the three adjacent base pairs and using the chart below to identify the different
types of amino acids.
The ten amino acids I
found:
1) UGG= TRYPTOPHAN 2)
GAG= GLUTAMIC ACID 3) GGC=
GLYCINE
4) GGA= GLYCINE
5) CAA= GLUTAMINE
6) CAA= GLUTAMINE 7)
CCU=PROLINE
8)
CGU= ARGININE 9) AGA=
ARGNINE
10) CCA= PROLINE
 |
| First strand of my double helix Black=Deoxyribone and Red=Phosphate |
 |
| I have attached my complementary base pairs to the phosphate (red twizzler) Base pairs: ADENINE=ORANGE, GUANINE=GREEN, THYMINE=YELLOW AND CYTOSINE=RED |
 |
| This is what a DNA molecule looks like unwound |
 |
| Finished DNA molecule |
My DNA model represents a double
helix made up of sugar molecules and phosphate that twist around one another.
Each strand has a nucleotide base that when paired together creates a stable
structure of the DNA molecule. Each three successive base pairs will be one of
the amino acids I listed above. The DNA molecule I constructed is the framework
that helped me understand the Central Dogma of Biology. The central dogma of
Biology is the flow of DNA being transcribed into RNA and RNA is translated
into amino acids to make proteins.
My
experiment demonstrated a DNA molecule that was constructed from a strand of
DNA, transcribed into RNA and using a chart I was able to identify the different
kinds of amino acids the DNA I chose is using to make proteins. I learned how
DNA works in more depth. I understand now how to transcribe DNA into RNA and to
identify the different amino acids. Learning more in depth about nucleotides and how they
must pair with one another, in order to mesh and synthesize proteins.
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