The Central Dogma
By the end of the week, I will be able to describe how genes allow for gene expression by reading about the Central Dogma, drawing a diagram and writing a
paragraph to go with my analysis. Reference: The Central Dogma>
paragraph to go with my analysis. Reference: The Central Dogma>
- Write a paragraph to summarize the Central Dogma
- Summarize Activities on
this Webpage on Your Portfolio Page: DNA to Protein Website Tutorials>
A. What is the Central Dogma?The Central Dogma>
The central dogma is when the information from DNA turns to RNA turns into proteins. The process from a gene to protein has two steps: Transcription and translation. Transcription is when the DNA turns into RNA. Translations is when the mRNA turns into a protein. A protein can make a living thing function. C. What is a gene?What is a gene?'>
Genes are instruction manuals for bodies and are made of DNA. They are needed to make and operate our bodies. Our blood has red blood cells that transport oxygen around our bodies. The cells use hemoglobin (protein) to catch and carry oxygen. If the hemoglobin is okay, then the protein is fine. But if the gene is mutated, the hemoglobin protein can result to sickle cell anemia. Genes have instructions for building proteins. Examples are hemoglobin, enzymes, and keratin. E. What is a protein?What is a protein?'>
Proteins make living things function. Our cells have certain jobs. Every cell has many proteins that work together to run the cell. Networks of nerves gives us the sensation of pain and are arranged to transmit the signal. The recieving cells have receptor proteins- they pick up signals and pass it to the next cell. Structural proteins extend branches and hold them in place (column like shape). |
B. What is DNA?'What is DNA?' and 'Build a DNA Molecule'>
There are instructions in the nucleus in every living organism. They tell the cell what to do in your body. These instructions are called DNA. DNA has a set of plans to build different parts of the cell. The DNA molecule is a double helix shape. The ladder's rungs have four letters: A, C, T, G. The letters join accordingly to special rules. The strands of DNA are made up of letters, which make words, which make sentences called genes. Genes tell the cell to make protein. Protein can help a cell to certain functions ex. hearing. D. Transcription and TranslationTranscribe and Translate a Gene'>
Transcription process: the information in the gene's DNA is transferred to RNA in the nucleus. RNA and DNA have nucleotide bases. The RNA that has the information for making a protein is the messenger RNA. The messenger RNA carries the message from the DNA to the cytoplasm. Translation process: the mRNA (messenger RNA) interacts with the ribosome and it reads the mRNA bases. Each codon codes for a specific amino acid. The transfer RNA creates the protein, one amino acid at a time, until the ribosome meets a "stop" codon. F. An Example of Gene Expression'What make a firefly glow?'>
The enzyme called RNA polymerase finds the DNA encoding the LUC gene, which specifies the sequence of amino acids. The RNA polymerase copies the LUC gene in mRNA form (transcription). When it finishes, the LUC mRNA goes to the cytoplasm and is recognized by the ribosome. The ribosome makes a string of amino acids that make up the luciferase enzyme (translation). The amino acids have to make a certain shape to be a working luciferase enzyme. To make visible light, the cells in the firefly's tail needs to make thousands of luciferase enzymes. The enzymes bind to a chemical - luciferin. The luciferase enzyme cobmines an oxygen molecule with luciferin that makes oxyluciferin. The luciferase enzymes makes a light that is bright enough to see. |