SAINT FRANCIS SCHOOL

SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
MRS. R. RODRIGUEZ
Biology
Monster Synthesis Activity
Purpose: To examine how an organism’s DNA determines their phenotypes.

Background Information:
Your unique body characteristics (traits), such as hair color or blood type, are determined by the proteins
your body produces. Proteins are the building block of life - in fact, about 45% of the human body is made
of protein. These organic macromolecules perform a wide range of functions including body repair,
regulation, and protection. Proteins are created by bonding groups of amino acids that are coded for by
the nucleotide base sequences (A, T, G, and C) in your DNA.

DNA is trapped in the nucleus because it is too wide to escape through the small nuclear pores in the
nuclear membrane. This is a big issue for the cell, since proteins are made outside the nucleus in the
cytoplasm. For this reason, a process called transcription occurs. DNA passes on its nucleotide base
sequences, or code, to a single-stranded molecule called mRNA (messenger). mRNA then carries the code
out to the cytoplasm to the ribosomes, the site where proteins are made.

When the mRNA reaches the ribosome, the code in the mRNA nucleotides are read in groups of three
bases, or codons. It takes three bases to code for a single amino acid. Each codon signals another type of
RNA, called tRNA (transfer), to carry a specific amino acid into the ribosome. As amino acids continue to
bond to one another it forms a polypeptide chain that eventually results in a protein. This process is
known as translation.

In this activity, you will simulate protein synthesis by transcribing the DNA and translating the mRNA of
the imaginary CHNOPS monster. You will decode each gene to determine the phenotypic expression of
the CHNOPS monster’s DNA, and then draw the monster based on your results.

Background Questions: Answer the following questions in complete sentences, restating the
question within your answer. 14PTS
1. What is the monomer for proteins?
2. Which organelle is responsible for synthesizing proteins?
3. What happens during transcription? Where in the cell does transcription take place?
4. What is the function of mRNA?
5. How many bases make up a codon? If you have 30 bases, how many amino acids would it code for?
6. What are the base pair rules when going from DNA to mRNA?
7. What happens during translation? Where in the cell does translation take place?

Instructions:
1. Pick out a DNA strand for each category.
a. Write down the DNA strand and allele number on your “Monster Synthesis Data Sheet”
b. Transcribe each DNA strand into mRNA.
c. Translate the mRNA strand into an amino acid sequence using the genetic codon chart. d.
Write down the physical appearance (phenotype) based on the amino acid sequence you
have decoded. 65 PTS

2. Draw a picture of your Monster on a separate sheet of blank paper based on the traits that you
have decoded and explained to the group. 21 pts
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 SAINT FRANCIS SCHOOL
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
MRS. R. RODRIGUEZ
Biology

Monster Synthesis Activity

Monster DNA SEQUENCES:

1. Pick a DNA strand for HAIR COLOR. 6. Pick a DNA strand for NUMBER of
Allele 1: TAC ATA CGC GGG ATT HANDS.
Allele 2: TAC ATA CGC GTA ATT Allele 8: TAC TAT CCG ATA ATC
Allele 3: TAC GGG CCC AAA ATT Allele 9: TAC TAT CCG TAT ATC
Allele 4: TAC GGC CCT TTT ATT
Allele 10: TAC TAT CCG TGA ATC
2. Pick a DNA strand for EYE COLOR. Allele 11: TAC TAT CCG AGG ATC
Allele 1: TAC ATA CGC GGG ATT Allele 12: TAC TAT CCG GGG ATC
Allele 2: TAC ATA CGC GTA ATT Allele 13: TAC TAT CCG GCA ATC
7. Pick a DNA strand for NUMBER OF
Allele 3: TAC GGG CCC AAA ATT
EYES.
Allele 4: TAC GGC CCT TTT ATT
Allele 8: TAC ATC CGA TAA ATC
Allele 9: TAC TAT CCG TAT ATC
3. Pick a DNA strand for HAND SIZE.
Allele 10: TAC TAT CCG TGA ATC
Allele 5: TAC AAA TTT CCC ATC
Allele 11: TAC TAT CCG AGG ATC
Allele 6: TAC CAA CAT CAG ATC
Allele 12: TAC TAT CCG GGG ATC
Allele 7: TAC GTA GTG GCT ATC Allele 13: TAC TAT CCG GCA ATC
4. Pick a DNA strand for FEET SIZE.
8. Pick a DNA strand for FUR TYPE.
Allele 5: TAC AAA TTT CCC ATC
Allele 14: TAC ACA ACG ACC ATT
Allele 6: TAC CAA CAT CAG ATC Allele 15: TAC ACA ACG CTT ATT
Allele 7: TAC GTA GTG GCT ATC
9. Pick a DNA strand for GENDER.
5. Pick a DNA strand for NUMBER of Allele 16: TAC AAA TTT TTT ATC
FEET. Allele 17: TAC AAA TTT GCA ATC
Allele 8: TAC TAT CCG ATA ATC
Allele 9: TAC TAT CCG TAT ATC 10. Pick a DNA strand for HORNS.
Allele 10: TAC TAT CCG TGA ATC Allele 18: TAC CTT GTA GTA ATT
Allele 11: TAC TAT CCG AGG ATC Allele 19: TAC CTT GTA TCA ATT
Allele 12: TAC TAT CCG GGG ATC
Allele 13: TAC TAT CCG GCA ATC

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 SAINT FRANCIS SCHOOL
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
MRS. R. RODRIGUEZ
Biology
11. Pick a DNA strand for ACCESSORY. Allele 23: TAC CAT CGA GTC ATT
Allele 20: TAC AAA AGT GAA ATT
Allele 21: TAC AAA AGT AAA ATT 13. Pick a DNA strand for TEETH.
Allele 24: TAC ATA CGC CTC ATT
12. Pick a DNA strand for TYPE of Allele 25: TAC TTA CGC GGA ATT
WINGS. Allele 26: TAC GGG TTA AAA ATT
Allele 22: TAC CAA CGA GAA ATT
Monster Synthesis Activity

Amino Acid Sequences and the Traits they code for:

Tyr – Ala – Pro = Green and Yellow

Iso – Gly – Thr = One
Asp – Ala – Pro = Straight
Val – Val – Val = Really big
Val – Ala – Leu = Insect like
Pro – Gly – Phe = Pink and Purple
Pro – Asp – Phe = Missing Teeth
Cys Cys – Glu = Rough and Curly
Phe – Lys – Lys = Male
Iso – Gly – Pro = Eight
Tyr – Ala – Glu = Crooked
Tyr – Ala – His = Orange and Blue
Phe – Lys – Arg = Female
Phe – Ser – Phe = Hat
Phe – Lys – Gly = Small
His – His – Arg = Medium
Glu – His – His = One
Pro – Gly – Lys – Black and Red
Tyr – Ala – His = Orange and Blue
Phe – Lys – Gly = Small
His – His – Arg = Medium
Glu – His – His = One
Iso – Gly – Iso = Four
Phe – Ser – Leu = Cape/ Bling-Bling (male), Earrings/Purse (female)
Iso – Gly – Ser = Two
Iso – Gly – Tyr = One
Val – Ala – Gly = Bird like
Iso – Gly – Arg = Five
Glu – His – Ser = Two
Cys – Cys – Try = Smooth and Straight
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 SAINT FRANCIS SCHOOL
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
MRS. R. RODRIGUEZ
Biology

Second Base
U C A G

U Phe Ser Tyr Cys U

Phe Ser Tyr Cys C
Leu Ser Stop Stop A
Leu Ser Stop Try G

C Leu Pro His Arg U

Leu Pro His Arg C
Leu Pro Glu Arg A
Leu Pro Glu Arg G
A Iso Thr Asp Ser U
Iso Thr Asp Ser C
Iso Thr Lys Arg A
Met Thr Lys Arg G
G Val Ala Asp Gly U
Val Ala Asp Gly C
Val Ala Glu Gly A
Val Ala Glu Gly G

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 SAINT FRANCIS SCHOOL
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
MRS. R. RODRIGUEZ
Biology
Monster Synthesis Data Sheet
1. Gene for Hair Color (allele # _____ )
7. Gene for Number of Eyes (allele # _____ )
DNA: _________________________________________________
DNA: _________________________________________________
mRNA: _______________________________________________
mRNA: _______________________________________________
Amino Acid: _________________________________________
Amino Acid: _________________________________________
Physical Appearance/Protein: ____________________
Physical Appearance/Protein: ____________________
2. Gene for Eye Color (allele # _____ )
8. Gene for Fur Type (allele # _____ )
DNA: _________________________________________________
DNA: _________________________________________________
mRNA: _______________________________________________
mRNA: _______________________________________________
Amino Acid: _________________________________________
Amino Acid: _________________________________________
Physical Appearance/Protein: ____________________
Physical Appearance/Protein: ____________________
3. Gene for Hand Size (allele # _____ )
9. Gene for Gender (allele # _____ )
DNA: _________________________________________________
DNA: _________________________________________________
mRNA: _______________________________________________
mRNA: _______________________________________________
Amino Acid: _________________________________________
Amino Acid: _________________________________________
Physical Appearance/Protein: ____________________
Physical Appearance/Protein: ____________________
4. Gene for Feet Size (allele # _____ )
10. Gene for Horns (allele # _____ )
DNA: _________________________________________________
DNA: _________________________________________________
mRNA: _______________________________________________
mRNA: _______________________________________________
Amino Acid: _________________________________________
Amino Acid: _________________________________________
Physical Appearance/Protein: ____________________
Physical Appearance/Protein: ____________________
5. Gene for Number of Feet (allele # _____ )
11. Gene for Accessory (allele # _____ )
DNA: _________________________________________________
DNA: _________________________________________________
mRNA: _______________________________________________
mRNA: _______________________________________________
Amino Acid: _________________________________________
Amino Acid: _________________________________________
Physical Appearance/Protein: ____________________
Physical Appearance/Protein: ____________________
6. Gene for Number of Hands (allele # _____ )
12. Gene for Wings (allele # _____ )
DNA: _________________________________________________
DNA: _________________________________________________
mRNA: _______________________________________________
mRNA: _______________________________________________
Amino Acid: _________________________________________
Amino Acid: _________________________________________
Physical Appearance/Protein: ____________________
Physical Appearance/Protein: ____________________

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 SAINT FRANCIS SCHOOL
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
MRS. R. RODRIGUEZ
Biology
13. Gene for Teeth (allele # _____ ) mRNA: _______________________________________________
Amino Acid: _________________________________________
DNA: _________________________________________________ Physical Appearance/Protein: ____________________