DNA Scavenger Hunt

Example:

The DNA code is carried to the ribosome by messenger RNA; the code shown is the DNA code; you are to change the code to the m-RNA codon and then look up each triplet codon to determine the letter the coden equals. The letters will form words, in this case, items to find in a scavenger hunt. The items must be listed in the order the code dictates.

Ribosome

DNA = CCC ATG TTC CGT CTG TCC TTC

mRNA GGG UAC AAG GCA GAC AGG AAG

letter start B E N I C E = BE NICE

RIBOSOME 1

CCCTCCAAAAGGATGTTTGTTAGCCGAAGGAAACCATTC

RIBOSOME 2

CCCAGTTTCAGGGAGTTTAGGTAGCGCAGTGTTTTTCCATTTCGCAGCCGT

CCAGTTTTCCGCCTGCGC

RIBOSOME 3

CCCAGTCTGTCCCCAGACAGGTTCAAACGTCTGTAGAAAGCG

RIBOSOME 4

CCCAGTTTCCGTCGTAGC

RIBOSOME 5

CCCAGTAGGTTTCCATTCCTGCGT

RIBOSOME 6

CCCAAAGCGTCCAAACGT

RIBOSOME 7

CCCAGGGACATGATGTTCAGGATGAAACGTCGA

RIBOSOME 8

CCCAGTCTGTCCCCAGACAGGTTCAGTGCGAAACGTCCA

RIBOSOME 9

CCCTCCAAAAGGCGAATGTTTAAAAGGCGA

RIBOSOME 10

CCCCTAAGGAAACGCCGC

RIBOSOME 11

CCCAGGTTTTCCTTA

RIBOSOME 12

CCCGTCTTCTTCCGA

RIBOSOME 13

CCCTAGAAATTATTCGCGCTGCGCCCACTGCCATTCTAGCGCCTGCGTTTT

AGGCGATTCAGG

The amino acid sequence (order) is represented by the ___________________________ in this activity.

The DNA code and m-RNA codon are represented by the _________ in this activity.

If the order of the items you scavenged is wrong, you won't get the prize because the message (correct list of items in order) doesn't make sense. this is an analogy with what goes on in the cell with DNA's message. Write a paragraph explaining what will happen if the DNA message is wrong.

Bonus Mystery

Answer Key

Secret Codes:

DNA code

m-RNA codons

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