At the beginning of this project, each group chose a protein that they wanted to follow. My group chose sex hormone binding globulin. We then used workbench.sdsc.edu to find the sequence of amino acids that made up our protein. After that, each group created a presentation that detailed what our protein did and how it was created. My group's presentation can be seen below.
Concepts Used:
Protein: A protein is a complex molecule made of a chain of amino acids. They are responsible for a humongous amounts of functions within the body, due to the fact that they can be so varied.
Central Dogma: The central dogma is a term used to describe the basics of protein synthesis. Basically, it says that DNA is used to make mRNA through transcription, and the mRNA is used to make proteins through translation.
DNA: DNA is the instructions for all of life. It is comprised of a double helix pattern that you should already know about, with nucleobases joining them in the center. The four nucleobases of DNA are Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Guanine (G), and Cytosine (C). They will each only pair with one of the other bases, A pairing with T and G pairing with C. The cell has developed to be able to make different proteins based on the different combinations of the bases of DNA in a long strand. DNA can be found in the nucleus
mRNA: mRNA carries instructions from DNA to the rest of the cell. It begins as free-floating bases in the nucleus, and is assembled into the exact opposite of a strand of DNA by an RNA polymerase. Instead of thymine (T), mRNA, and all RNA, use Uracil (U). After being assembled, strands of mRNA leave the nucleus, and go to other parts of the cell.
tRNA: tRNA can be found in the cytoplasm of a cell. It is like mRNA, in that it uses the same bases, but tRNA's job is to transport amino acids. It comes pre-assembled into groups of three bases, known as codons. Depending on which three bases it has, tRNA will be carrying a type of amino acid.
Ribosome: Ribosomes read mRNA, and use the information in mRNA to make proteins. When mRNA bonds with a ribosome, the ribosome reads it in codons (groups of three bases) and attaches tRNA with the opposite codon, or anticodon. When it does this, the amino acid the tRNA was carrying is added to a chain of amino acids. When the ribosome finds a stop codon in the mRNA, it releases the amino acid chain, and lets it fold itself into a protein.
Protein: A protein is a complex molecule made of a chain of amino acids. They are responsible for a humongous amounts of functions within the body, due to the fact that they can be so varied.
Central Dogma: The central dogma is a term used to describe the basics of protein synthesis. Basically, it says that DNA is used to make mRNA through transcription, and the mRNA is used to make proteins through translation.
DNA: DNA is the instructions for all of life. It is comprised of a double helix pattern that you should already know about, with nucleobases joining them in the center. The four nucleobases of DNA are Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Guanine (G), and Cytosine (C). They will each only pair with one of the other bases, A pairing with T and G pairing with C. The cell has developed to be able to make different proteins based on the different combinations of the bases of DNA in a long strand. DNA can be found in the nucleus
mRNA: mRNA carries instructions from DNA to the rest of the cell. It begins as free-floating bases in the nucleus, and is assembled into the exact opposite of a strand of DNA by an RNA polymerase. Instead of thymine (T), mRNA, and all RNA, use Uracil (U). After being assembled, strands of mRNA leave the nucleus, and go to other parts of the cell.
tRNA: tRNA can be found in the cytoplasm of a cell. It is like mRNA, in that it uses the same bases, but tRNA's job is to transport amino acids. It comes pre-assembled into groups of three bases, known as codons. Depending on which three bases it has, tRNA will be carrying a type of amino acid.
Ribosome: Ribosomes read mRNA, and use the information in mRNA to make proteins. When mRNA bonds with a ribosome, the ribosome reads it in codons (groups of three bases) and attaches tRNA with the opposite codon, or anticodon. When it does this, the amino acid the tRNA was carrying is added to a chain of amino acids. When the ribosome finds a stop codon in the mRNA, it releases the amino acid chain, and lets it fold itself into a protein.
Reflections:
One thing I did well in this unit was allowing other ideas. I tend to think that my ideas are always the best answer, but this time I tried to be more receptive to other's ideas. I found that it helped me cooperate with my group in a better manner. Another thing I did well was the research. In the past, we have often learned a great deal about things before we start our project. This time, however, we were expected to do the research by ourselves, and discover how proteins are created on our own. I feel that I did a good job in finding resources and learning.
I may have not done my best work in staying on task. Normally, I am very focused on my job, but this time, I was often distracted by some of my team mates. In the future, I will have to focus on learning how to ignore people more effectively. Another thing I failed at was staying up-to-date on what my team was doing. Sometimes, when I was trying to work on something, my team decided on a change to the project, or a re-organization of the slides, and I was left behind, wondering what we were doing now. I need to be able to ignore people at times, but also know when I need to pay attention, which can be difficult.
One thing I did well in this unit was allowing other ideas. I tend to think that my ideas are always the best answer, but this time I tried to be more receptive to other's ideas. I found that it helped me cooperate with my group in a better manner. Another thing I did well was the research. In the past, we have often learned a great deal about things before we start our project. This time, however, we were expected to do the research by ourselves, and discover how proteins are created on our own. I feel that I did a good job in finding resources and learning.
I may have not done my best work in staying on task. Normally, I am very focused on my job, but this time, I was often distracted by some of my team mates. In the future, I will have to focus on learning how to ignore people more effectively. Another thing I failed at was staying up-to-date on what my team was doing. Sometimes, when I was trying to work on something, my team decided on a change to the project, or a re-organization of the slides, and I was left behind, wondering what we were doing now. I need to be able to ignore people at times, but also know when I need to pay attention, which can be difficult.