Name: Eason Date:
Student Exploration: RNA and Protein Synthesis
Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.
Vocabulary: amino acid, anticodon, codon, gene, messenger RNA, nucleotide, ribosome, RNA, RNA
polymerase, transcription, transfer RNA, translation
Gizmo Warm-up
Just as a construction crew uses blueprints to build a house, a cell uses DNA
as plans for building proteins. In addition to DNA, another nucleic acid, called
RNA, is involved in making proteins. In the RNA and Protein Synthesis Gizmo,
you will use both DNA and RNA to construct a protein out of amino acids.
1. DNA is composed of the bases adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and
thymine (T). RNA is composed of adenine, cytosine, guanine, and uracil
(U).
Look at the SIMULATION pane. Is the displayed segment a part of a DNA
or RNA molecule? How do you know?
DNA because it has
the base A-T and G-C
2. RNA polymerase is a type of enzyme. Enzymes help chemical reactions occur quickly. Click the Release
enzyme button, and describe what happens.
It splits the DNA.
Reproduction for educational use only. Public sharing or posting prohibited. © 2020 ExploreLearning™ All rights reserved
, Reproduction for educational use only. Public sharing or posting prohibited. © 2020 ExploreLearning™ All rights reserved
Student Exploration: RNA and Protein Synthesis
Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.
Vocabulary: amino acid, anticodon, codon, gene, messenger RNA, nucleotide, ribosome, RNA, RNA
polymerase, transcription, transfer RNA, translation
Gizmo Warm-up
Just as a construction crew uses blueprints to build a house, a cell uses DNA
as plans for building proteins. In addition to DNA, another nucleic acid, called
RNA, is involved in making proteins. In the RNA and Protein Synthesis Gizmo,
you will use both DNA and RNA to construct a protein out of amino acids.
1. DNA is composed of the bases adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and
thymine (T). RNA is composed of adenine, cytosine, guanine, and uracil
(U).
Look at the SIMULATION pane. Is the displayed segment a part of a DNA
or RNA molecule? How do you know?
DNA because it has
the base A-T and G-C
2. RNA polymerase is a type of enzyme. Enzymes help chemical reactions occur quickly. Click the Release
enzyme button, and describe what happens.
It splits the DNA.
Reproduction for educational use only. Public sharing or posting prohibited. © 2020 ExploreLearning™ All rights reserved
, Reproduction for educational use only. Public sharing or posting prohibited. © 2020 ExploreLearning™ All rights reserved
