RHONDENE WINT

FOUNDATION OF BIOLOGY 155

SECTION A

LAB 3

LAB INSTRUCTOR: DIAN GRIFFITHS

NORTHERN CARIBBEAN UNIVERSITY

TITLE: DNA Replication

AIM: to simulate the production, replication and formation of mRNA codons during DNA

transcription in cells.

ABBREVIATIONS:

1. Nucleotide - the monomer unit for nucleic acids. Nucleotides consists a nitrogenous base,

a pentose and a phosphate group.

2. Nucleic acid- the polymer of nucleotides, in which the nucleotides are joined by a

phosphodiester linkage.

3. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) - a nucleic acid that is responsible for the storage of genetic

information in cells.

4. RNA (ribonucleic acid)- transport genetic information from DNA to ribosome for

protein synthesis.

5. Amino acids: are monomer units of proteins which have an amine group, a carboxylic

group and a side group attached.

6. Transcription: the process by which DNA is ‘copied’ into a mRNA for gene expression.

7. Translation: the process by which the DNA code in the mRNA is decoded by the

ribosome.

8. Codon: a group of three nucleotides which codes for one amino acid.

9. Replication: the process by which a DNA makes an exact copy of itself.

10. Ribosome- the protein synthesis machinery found in cells.

ABSTRACT: This lab was done to show what takes place before proteins are made in cells.

Paper cutouts were used to represent the bases found in DNA and RNA. By taping six
nucleotides together, a model of DNA chain was reproduced. The paper DNA chain was to

linked to another six nucleotide chain by matching up the purine-pyrimidine pairs in order to

show how a DNA ladder is formed. The paper DNA molecule was separated into two vertical

halves and each strand was linked to a new complementing strand to demonstrate semi-

conservative replication of DNA. After, twelve RNA nucleotides were cutout and six of them

were linked to a strand of one of the DNA molecule that had separated. The RNA strand was

removed and the DNA strand was rejoined to its original partner. This activity had demonstrated

DNA transcription.

INTRODUCTION: Genetics is the study of genes and hereditary and how it influences variation

in organism. The nucleus of a cell contains thread like structures called chromosomes which

carry genes. Genes are the basic unit of inheritance, and it basic component is DNA. The

characteristics of any organism ultimately depend on which genes are expressed or active. DNA

is one the most essential constituent in organism. It is DNA that carries the genetic message or

information of an organism. DNA carries the code for a gene responsible for the manufacture of

a specific protein. This genetic code is made up of four nitrogenous bases- adenine, thymine

guanine and cytosine- which are arranged in a particular order for each gene. Their precise order

is known as DNA sequence. The double helical shape of DNA molecule was discovered by

James Watson and Francis Crick in 1958. This double helix structure of DNA arises because the

phosphate and sugar groups are linked together by phosphodiester linkages hence forming the

background of the two DNA strands, leaving each strand’s nitrogenous base exposed. The DNA

‘ladder’ is completed when a base from one strand hydrogen bonds with a base from the other

strand. However the bases must complement each other, that is, one must be a purine and the

pyrimidine. The purine bases are adenine and guanine, while the pyrimidine bases are thymine
cytosine and Uracil (RNA). mRNA, another nucleic acid, is responsible for transporting the

genetic code to the ribosome in order to produce a protein. This has two steps: 1) the DNA

encodes a copy of itself into the mRNA- transcription 2) the mRNA travels from the nucleus to

the ribosome where it is decoded and eventually proteins are produced. When a DNA molecule

undergoes replication two daughter molecules are produced in which each has an original strand

from the parent and a new strand. This type of replication is known as semi conservative

replication. DNA replication is most vital for the continuation of a specie and life in general.

MATERIALS/APPARATUS:

 Scissors

 Tape

 Paper cutouts of nucleotides.

METHOD: Twenty four DNA nucleotides were cut out. A group of six was chosen, having at

least one A, T, C, G, in which each was turned over and placed on table. They were then

shuffled and turned over one at time. The unlettered sides of the nucleotides were taped together

by the order in which they were turned over. Six more nucleotides, whose lettered part matched

with the ones on the first chain, were taped together to resemble a DNA ladder. The ladder was

then separated length wise. The bases of the twelve remaining nucleotides were matched up with

exposed bases of each separate strand from the ladder. Twelve RNA nucleotides were cut out.

One of the new DNA ladder was divided, six RNA nucleotides bases were matched with the six

on the divided strand, and sugar-phosphate groups (unlettered parts) were taped together. The

RNA strand was then removed and the DNA was rejoined to its original strand.

RESULTS:
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Adenine and guanine.

2. Thymine and cytosine.

3. TAGCCA

4. YES, because it was done randomly and by different persons who chose different

sequence for the bases therefore chances of exact copies of chain was very minimal.

5. A-T and C-G

6. The positions of the new nucleotides differ from those of the original one, in which the

bases were matched up based on how the shapes fit.

7. Each new chain posses only one strand from the original DNA.

8. The result is two daughter DNA molecules, in which each has an old (template) strand

from the parent DNA molecule, and a newly synthesized complimentary strand.. This

results in the formation sister chromatids in chromosome.

9. Only one.

10. Adenine and guanine.

11. Uracil and cytosine.

12. Yes.

13. No, RNA has Uracil instead of thymine in DNA.

14. Uracil-adenine and guanine- cytosine.

15. Two codons. AUC and GGU.

16. Nucleotides

17. The process by which copies of DNA are made in the nucleus of a cell.
18. Both DNA replication RNA synthesis results in the formation a new complimentary

strand.

19. In DNA replication two daughter molecules are formed in which each has a template

strand from the parent molecule, whereas in RNA synthesis only one strand is formed

and this strand is a complement of the original DNA strand from which it was made.

20. The message is the genetic code needed to synthesize a particular protein.

CONCLUSION: DNA replication results in the formation of two daughter molecules in

which each retained only one strand from the original DNA molecule.

REFERNCES:

1. Campbell, N and Jane Reece. Biology, Seventh edition. Pearson- Benjamin

Cummings. San Francisco, 2004

2. Austyn, Jonathan and Katherine J. Wood. Principles of Cellular and Molecular

Immunology. Oxford University Press. New York, United States.