Name: __________________________________ Section _________________ Date: ____________ Score: _______
Decoding DNA Segment
Objective:
Apply the concept of protein synthesis through the amino acids coded for the mRNA codon using the genetic
code.
Materials:
pentel/pencil manila paper Pencil scotch tape/masking tape
Procedure:
1. Study the scenario, the profile of the suspects and additional information given below.
Scenario
An intruder razed the Science Laboratory of a Junior High School. The school is in chaos. The school
administrators and teachers demanded to know the culprit. They have to identify the culprit and do it fast. They had
three suspects namely Jum Bo, Bing Go and Rambo Tan. As a forensic expert, your mission is to identify the intruder
using the profile of the suspects and other information taken from the laboratory.
The profile of the suspects are as follows:
Name Profile
Jum Bo – Failed in Physics Class three with long nose hair attached ear lobe
times oval eyes straight hair
full lips
Bing Go – His investigative project is about short nose hair free earlobe
the potential applications of nuclear fusion chinky eyes curly hair
in generating energy. full lips
Rambo Tan – Suspended for a week by the short nose hair attached earlobe
Disciplinary Committee for repeated oval eyes wavy hair
tardiness. harelip
Additional Information:
Below are the specific amino acid sequence for specific trait.
nose hair lips ear attachment
short: phe – lys full lips: phe – glu – ala free earlobe: thre – tyr – ser
long: leu – lys harelip: phe – lys – ala attached: leu – arg – gly
shape of eyes type of hair
oval: val – ala – ala straight: lys – glu
chinky: val – ala – val wavy: phe – ala
curly: glu – phe
2. Using your knowledge about DNA and RNA base – pairing, decode the DNA sample in order to identify the
sequence of amino acids. Use the DNA Genetic Code Table as your reference.
The DNA Code of the Suspect
A fresh DNA sample was obtained from laboratory; believed to have been left by the suspect. Using the DNA
sequencer the following nucleotide sequence was obtained:
Suspect’s DNA sample:
TAC–AAA –TTT–ATC–TAC–AAA–CTT–CGT–ATC–TAC–CAT –CGT –CAT –ATT –TAC –TGG –ATA –TCG– ATC
–TAC –CTT–AAA– ATC
3. Compare the sequence of amino acids to the profile of the suspects and additional information given in order to
determine the corresponding traits.
4. Name the culprit using the data or information you got.
5. Using the pencil and crayons make a cartographic sketch of the suspect.
Complementary base pairs:
DNA is represented by nitrogen bases that are read in groups of three. To decode, use the DNA as a blueprint to
produce mRNA. Then use the mRNA as a blueprint to produce the linear sequence of tRNA. A specific nitrogen base
in the DNA pairs up with a specific nitrogen base in the mRNA, and a specific nitrogen base in the mRNA pairs up
with a specific nitrogen base in the tRNA.
Breaking the Code: Complete the data table below:
DNA triplet code mRNA tRNA Amino Acid
TAC
AAA
TTT
ATC
TAC
AAA
CTT
CGT
ATC
TAC
CAT
CGT
CAT
ATT
TAC
TGG
ATA
TCG
ATC
TAC
CTT
AAA
ATC
Characteristics and traits of the suspect based on the DNA code
nose hair : ____________________________
eyes : ____________________________
lips : ____________________________ GENETIC CODE TABLE
ear attachment : ____________________________
type of hair : ____________________________
Cartographic sketch of the suspect.
Questions:
1. What amino acid sequences did you get upon decoding the genes?
nose ___________________________________ lips : __________________________________
hair: __________________________________ shape of eyes: ____________________________
ear attachment: _________________________ type of hair : ___________________________
2. What are the traits of the culprit based on your data?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
3. Who among the suspects matches with the sequence of amino acids you got?
_______________________________________________________________________________________