1. Glossary for the Protein Necklace Activity
Please turn to page 339 in your book.
Messenger RNA (mRNA): Carries the message from DNA about how to make proteins.
Translation: The process of reading the message in mRNA to make proteins (by linking amino acids
together).
Amino acids: Chemical building blocks used to make proteins. Amino acids contain carbon, nitrogen,
oxygen, hydrogen and sometimes sulfur.We will use colored beads to represent the different amino acids.
Ribosome: Organelle where proteins are made.In this activity, your desks will serve as ribosomes.
Transfer RNA (tRNA): Special key-shaped RNA molecules that deliver amino acids to the ribosome for
protein synthesis.The cups in the back of the room that are carrying the beads represent the differenttRNAs.
Codon: groups of three ribonucleotides in mRNA that indicate which amino acid will be placed on a growing
protein chain.
Start Codon: AUG codes for methionine which is the first amino acid in all proteins.No false starts or you’re
disqualified!
Stop Codons: UAA, UAG, and UGA indicate that protein translation should stop. There should be no amino
acids added to a protein once a stop codon is reached.

2. Protein Necklace Activity
Instructions
1.
Each pair ofstudents will be assigned a color and the information for one amino acid
sequence, in the form of an mRNA “map.” We’ll give you a pipe cleaner that matchesyour
color. You’ll be stringing amino acid “beads” along the pipe cleaner. Roll one end as
instructed so the beads won’t fall off.
2.
Get out the protein coding table that shows the codon sequence for each amino acid. (It is
also on page 338 of your book).
3.
The amino acid beads are in cups around the classroom in alphabetical order. The cups are
transfer RNAs (tRNAs) because they hold specific amino acids. Notice that the cups have
tRNA molecules drawn on them.
4.
Your desk is the ribosome. You may only assemble the protein necklace at your ribosome.
5.
One of you may move one cup at a time from its place in the back of the room. Your
partner should stay at the ribosome to do the assembly. Put the cups back immediately
after you add new amino acids to your protein, so they will be available for the
construction of other proteins, elsewhere in the cell.
6.
On your worksheet page 1, identify the normal and mutant sequences for your group’s
color. Right now we are making the necklace for theNoRMAL sequence. Later you will
make the necklace for the mutant sequence and compare them, but not yet.
7.
On the worksheet, circle the start codon, AUG, which codes for methionine. All proteins
begin with methionine.
8.
Find and underline the stop codon which is the first instance of UAA, UGA, or UAG that
comes after (to the right of) the methionine. You should stop making your protein necklace
when you reach a stop codon.
9.
Start assembling your necklace. When finished, check with your teacher to see if you made
the correct protein. If correct… good job!You may continue on to step 10.
10. Get a white pipe cleaner and build the protein foryour mutant sequence. If you were the
code reader last time, switch with your partner so that he/she reads the code and you
deliver the amino acids. Check with your teacher to ensure that you have correctly
assembled the protein.
11. Next, consider how your mutation may have affected you protein’s sequence. On page 2,
answer the questions for your group’s color.We will fill the rest of the table out as a class.
When filling out the mutation type(s) column try to choose correctly from types given in
bold face text above the table. Please be aware that in some cases we are looking for two
answers for a mutation type. For example, an insertion or deletion can also cause a frame
shift.
12. Turn in Pages 1 and 2. Pay attention to the class discussion because it will make your
homeworkeasier.

3. Protein Necklace Worksheet
Name___________________________Block_________p. 1
GROUP
MRNA SEQUENCES
PINK
AC UAGCAAGCUCUCAGGCCUGGCAUCAUGGUGCAUUUUACUGCU GAG GAA CCC GUCUGA CCC AUUAUUU
NORMAL
PINK
MUTANT
AC UAGCAAGCUCUCAGGCCUGGCAUCAUGGUGCAUUUUACUGCU GAG G UA CCC GUCUGA CCC AUUAUUU
GREEN
GCAGCGAAUAAGUUAUGUUAAUCGGAUGGCGG CCC AUAAGAGUUUAGUAUGG
NORMAL
GREEN
MUTANT
GCAGCGAAUAAGUUAUGUU G AUCGGAUGGCGG CCC AUAAGAGUUUAGUAUGG
ORANGE
AC CGCGGAGCCCUUGCAGCCAUGAGGGAA CAG AAAGGC GAG ACUCAAACAUGAAAA CCCACUUGCUGG
NORMAL
ORANGE
MUTANT
AC CGCGGAGCCCUUGCAGCCAUGAGGGAA CAG UAAGGC GAG ACUCAAACAUGAAAA CCC ACUUGCUGG
YELLOW
AAUCUUACAAAAUGUGUGACGAAGAAGUUCUGAAAUUGGUUGUCUGAGACAACGGC
NORMAL
YELLOW
MUTANT
BLACK
UUAAAAAAUUUAUGUGUGACGAAGAAGUUCUGAAAUUGGUUGUCUGAUUUUUUUUU
AU UAAGCAAUGUCAGGCGUCCGAUAG CCC AUCAUCAACGGUAAG CCC AUUAAC CCC CGG CCC C
NORMAL
BLACK
MUTANT
AU UAAGCAAUGUCAGGC CGUCCGAUAGCCCAUCAUCAACGGUAAGCCCAUUAA CCC CCGGCCCC
BROWN
GGAGGGCAUG CAG GAG UUCACG GAG UUCUAGACAAGACCG
NORMAL
BROWN
MUTANT
GGAGGGCAUG CAG GAG UUCGAG AAG CCC UUCACG GAG UUCUAGACAAGACCG
BLUE
UUGGACCU CCC AUGGAC GAG ACAACAGGUUGAGCGGGACUAUUGAGGCGACGGCAA
NORMAL
BLUE
MUTANT
RED
UUGGACCU CCC AUGGAC GAG AAA CAG GUU GAG CGGGACUAUUGAGGCGACGGCAA
AAAAGCCCAACUAGAA GAG AUGUCAGUUUUC CGU UAC GCC UAUCAUUUUUGGUGAUUCUAAC
NORMAL
RED
MUTANT
AAAAGCCCAACUAGAA GAG AUGUCAGUUUUCUAUCAUUUUUGGUGAUUCUAAC
PURPLE
NORMAL
UAUAUUUUGAUAUG CCC AGCAUU G AUAUUGAAGUAGAAUGACACUUGAGCAAC
PURPLE
MUTANT
UAUAUUUUGAUAUG CCC AGCAUUAUAUUGAAGUAGAAUGACACUUGAGCA AC

4. Protein Necklace Worksheet
Name_____________________________Block__________ p.2
Mutation Types
Substitution: A swap of one nucleotide for another
Insertion: Extra nucleotides
Deletion: Missing nucleotides
Missense: A substitution resulting in a different amino acid
Nonsense: A substitution that changes an amino acid into a stop codon
Frame Shift: When an insertion or deletion causes changes the downstream codons resulting in a
different amino acid sequence
Silent: When a mutation does not alter the amino acid sequence
GROUP
MISSENSE
NONSENSE
INSERTION
DELETION
FRAMESHIFT
SILENT
(IS THERE A
(IS THERE A
(WITH A
DIFFERENCE IN
THE AMINO ACID
SEQUENCE)
(WITH A
DIFFERENCE IN
THE AMINO
(DOES THE AMINO
ACID SEQUENCE
READ DIFFERENTLY
FOLLOWING AN
INSERTION OR
DELETION ?)
(ISTHERE NO
MUTATION
TYPE(S)
CHANGE TO
(WRITE THE
THE A MINO
MUTATION TYPE ( S)
ACID
SEQUENCE ?
USING THE ANSWERS
SUBSTITUTION
RESULTING IN
AMINO
ACID ?)
A NEW
SUBSTITUTION
RESULTING IN
A NEW STOP
CODON ?)
ACID
SEQUENCE)
TO THE LEFT OF THIS
COLUMN AS YOUR
GUIDE .)
PINK
NO
NO
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
NO
PURPLE
NO
NO
RED
NO
NO
BLUE
YES
NO
BROWN
YES
NO
BLACK
YES
NO
YELLOW
YES
NO
ORANGE
YES
NO
GREEN
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO

5. Translation Homework
Name___________________________Block_________ p. 3
1) Underline the start and stop codons for each sequence.
2) Underneath the mRNA sequences, write the amino acid sequence for the proteins.
3) Continue on to p. 4.
GROUP
MRNA SEQUENCES
#1
AC CGCGGAGCCCUUGCAGCCAUGAGGGAA CAG AAAGGC GAG ACUCAAACAUGAAAA CCCACUUGCUGG
NORMAL
#1
MUTANT
AC CGCGGAGCCCUUGCAGCCAUGAGGGAA CAG UAAGGC GAG ACUCAAACAUGAAAA CCC ACUUGCUGG
#2
AC UAGCAAGCUCUCAGGCCUGGCAUCAUGGUGCAUUUUACUGCU GAG GAA CCC GUCUGA CCC AUUAUUU
N ORMAL
#2
MUTANT
AC UAGCAAGCUCUCAGGCCUGGCAUCAUGGUGCAUUUUACUGCU GAG G UA CCC GUCUGA CCC AUUAUUU
#3
AAAAGCCCAACUAGAA GAG AUGUCAGUUUUC CGU UAC GCC UAUCAUUUUUGGUGAUUCUAAC
N ORMAL
#3
MUTANT
AAAAGCCCAACUAGAA GAG AUGUCAGUUUUCUAUCAUUUUUGGUGAUUCUAAC
#4
GGAGGGCAUG CAG GAG UUCACG GAG UUCUAGACAAGACCG
N ORMAL
#4
MUTANT
GGAGGGCAUG CAG GAG UUCGAG AAG CCC UUCACG GAG UUCUAGACAAGACCG
#5
AU UAAGCAAUGUCAGGCGUCCGAUAG CCC AUCAUCAACGGUAAG CCC AUUAAC CCC CGG CCC C
N ORMAL
#5
MUTANT
AU UAAGCAAUGUCAGGC CGUCCGAUAGCCCAUCAUCAACGGUAAGCCCAUUAA CCC CCGGCCCC
#6
UAUAUUUUGAUAUG CCC AGCAUU G AUAUUGAAGUAGAAUGACACUUGAGCAAC
N ORMAL
#6
MUTANT
UAUAUUUUGAUAUG CCC AGCAUUAUAUUGAAGUAGAAUGACACUUGAGCA AC
#7
AAUCUUACAAAAUGUGUGACGAAGAAGUUCUGAAAUUGGUUGUCUGAGACAACGGC
N ORMAL
#7
MUTANT
UUAAAAAAUUUAUGUGUGACGAAGAAGUUCUGAAAUUGGUUGUCUGAUUUUUUUUU
#8
N ORMAL
GCAGCGAAUAAGUUAUGUUAAUCGGAUGGCGG CCC AUAAGAGUUUAGUAUGG
#8
MUTANT
GCAGCGAAUAAGUUAUGUUG AUCGGAUGGCGG CCC AUAAGAGUUUAGUAUGG
#9
N ORMAL
UUGGACCU CCC AUGGAC GAG ACAACAGGUUGAGCGGGACUAUUGAGGCGACGGCAA
#9
MUTANT
UUGGACCU CCC AUGGAC GAG AAA CAG GUU GAG CGGGACUAUUGAGGCGACGGCAA

6. Translation Homework
Name___________________________Block_________
p. 4
Complete the table below. Please be aware that in some cases there will be two answers for “mutation type.”
For example, an insertion or deletion mutation might cause a frame shiftmutation.
Mutation Types
Substitution: A swap of one nucleotide for another
Insertion: Extra nucleotides
Deletion: Missing nucleotides
Missense: A substitution resulting in a different amino acid
Nonsense: A substitution that changes an amino acid into a stop codon
Frame Shift: When an insertion or deletion causes changes the downstream codons resulting in
a different amino acid sequence
Silent: When a mutation does not alter the amino acid sequence
#
MISSENSE
(IS THERE A
NONSENSE
INSERTION
DELETION
FRAMESHIFT
SILENT
(IS THERE A
(C AUSING A
DIFFERENCE IN
THE AMINO ACID
SEQUENCE)
(C AUSING A
DIFFERENCE IN
THE AMINO ACID
SEQUENCE)
(DOES THE AMINO
ACID SEQUENCE
READ DIFFERENTLY
FOLLOWING AN
INSERTION OR
DELETION ?)
(ISTHERE NO
MUTATION
TYPE(S)
CHANGE TO
(WRITE THE
THE AMINO
MUTATION TYPE ( S)
ACID
SEQUENCE ?
USING THE ANSWERS
SUBSTITUTION
SUBSTITUTION
RESULTING IN A
RESULTING IN
NEW STOP
AMINO
ACID ?)
CODON ?)
A NEW
TO THE LEFT OF THIS
COLUMN AS YOUR
GUIDE .)
1
NO
NO
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
NO
9
NO
NO
8
NO
NO
7
YES
NO
6
YES
NO
5
YES
NO
4
YES
NO
3
YES
NO
2
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO

7. Translation Homework
Name___________________________Block_________
p. 3
4) Underline the start and stop codons for each sequence.
5) Underneath the mRNA sequences, write the amino acid sequence for the proteins.
6) Continue on to p. 4.
GROUP
MRNA SEQUENCES
#1
AC CGCGGAGCCCUUGCAGCCAUGAGGGAA CAG AAAGGC GAG ACUCAAACAUGAAAA CCCACUUGCUGG
NORMAL
MetArgGluGlnLysGlyGluThrGlnThr
#1
MUTANT
AC CGCGGAGCCCUUGCAGCCAUGAGGGAA CAG UAAGGC GAG ACUCAAACAUGAAAA CCC ACUUGCUGG
#2
AC UAGCAAGCUCUCAGGCCUGGCAUCAUGGUGCAUUUUACUGCU GAG GAA CCC GUCUGA CCC AUUAUUU
N ORMAL
MetValHisPheThrAlaGluGluProVal
#2
MUTANT
AC UAGCAAGCUCUCAGGCCUGGCAUCAUGGUGCAUUUUACUGCU GAG G UA CCC GUCUGA CCC AUUAUUU
#3
AAAAGCCCAACUAGAA GAG AUGUCAGUUUUC CGU UAC GCC UAUCAUUUUUGGUGAUUCUAAC
N ORMAL
MetSerValPheArgTyrAlaTyrHisPheTrp
#3
MUTANT
AAAAGCCCAACUAGAA GAG AUGUCAGUUUUCUAUCAUUUUUGGUGAUUCUAAC
#4
GGAGGGCAUG CAG GAG UUCACG GAG UUCUAGACAAGACCG
N ORMAL
MetGlnGluPheThrGluPhe
#4
MUTANT
GGAGGGCAUG CAG GAG UUCGAG AAG CCC UUCACG GAG UUCUAGACAAGACCG
#5
AU UAAGCAAUGUCAGGCGUCCGAUAG CCC AUCAUCAACGGUAAG CCC AUUAAC CCC CGG CCC C
N ORMAL
MetArgGluGln
MetValHisPheThrAlaGluValProVal
MetSerValPheTyrHisPheTrp
MetGlnGluPheGluLysProPheThrGluPhe
MetSerGlyValArg
#5
MUTANT
AU UAAGCAAUGUCAGGC CGUCCGAUAGCCCAUCAUCAACGGUAAGCCCAUUAA CCC CCGGCCCC
#6
UAUAUUUUGAUAUG CCC AGCAUU G AUAUUGAAGUAGAAUGACACUUGAGCAAC
N ORMAL
MetProSerIleAspIleGluValGlu
#6
MUTANT
UAUAUUUUGAUAUG CCC AGCAUUAUAUUGAAGUAGAAUGACACUUGAGCA AC
#7
AAUCUUACAAAAUGUGUGACGAAGAAGUUCUGAAAUUGGUUGUCUGAGACAACGGC
N ORMAL
MetSerGlyArgProIleAlaHisHisGlnArg
MetProSerIleIleLeuLys
MetCysAspGluGluValLeuLysLeuValVal
#7
MUTANT
UUAAAAAAUUUAUGUGUGACGAAGAAGUUCUGAAAUUGGUUGUCUGAUUUUUUUUU
#8
N ORMAL
GCAGCGAAUAAGUUAUGUUAAUCGGAUGGCGG CCC AUAAGAGUUUAGUAUGG
#8
MUTANT
GCAGCGAAUAAGUUAUGUU G AUCGGAUGGCGG CCC AUAAGAGUUUAGUAUGG
#9
N ORMAL
UUGGACCU CCC AUGGAC GAG ACAACAGGUUGAGCGGGACUAUUGAGGCGACGGCAA
#9
UUGGACCU CCC AUGGAC GAG AAA CAG GUU GAG CGGGACUAUUGAGGCGACGGCAA
MetCysAspGluGluValLeuLysLeuValVal
MetLeuIleGlyTrpArgProIleArgVal
MetLeuIleGlyTrpArgProIleArgVal
MetAspGluThrThrGly

8. MUTANT
MetAspGluLysGlnValGluArgAspTyr