TASK
In this lab, we were asked to research how the deficiency of a protein in someone's body can cause a disease. We chose to research colorblindness as our disease. Colorblindness is caused by a mutation in the CRX gene which produces the cone-rod homeobox protein. This deficiency changes the way your cone cells are maintained. Next, we were supposed to make a Gantt chart as well as a poster to present our protein.
CONCEPTS
DNA - Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) is the carrier of genetic information. DNA is located inside the nucleus and is the genetic 'code' that determines genes. DNA relates to protein synthesis because it is what mRNA is copied from.
mRNA - mRNA (messenger RNA) is a type of RNA that caries information. A mRNA molecule carries a specific sequence of DNA outside the nucleus into the cytoplasm for processing. mRNA is created during transcription, when a section of DNA is copied into an mRNA strand by a RNA polymerase. For protein synthesis, the mRNA contains the codons that match with anti-codons which create the polypeptide chains.
Transcription - Transcription is the process of copying the information of a DNA sequence into an mRNA strand. This involves a RNA polymerase attaching to the specific part of the DNA strand, unwinding it, copying one end, and then rewinding the DNA back. This new mRNA strand leaves the nucleus and then finds a ribosome to initiate translation.
Amino Acids - Amino acids are simple organic compounds. Every amino acid has the same structure, 1 amino group, 1 carboxyl group, 1 carbon, 1 hydrogen, and 1 side-chain. The side-chain is what differs in each amino acid, creating the 20 different types.
Polypeptide Chain - Polypeptide chains are chains of many amino acids, held by amide bonds. These polypeptide chains are what create proteins.
Ribosome - Ribosomes are small cellular compounds comprised of ribosomal RNA and many proteins Ribosomes exist in large numbers in the cytoplasm of the cell as well as in the endoplasmic reticulum. Their job is to create polypeptide chains.
Folding - Protein folding is the process of taking the polypeptide chains and folding them into domains, which are then folded into proteins. All proteins are formed of polypeptide chains, and the function of the protein is affected by how the chains fold into the 3D protein structure.
Protein - Proteins are large macromolecules which are comprised of polypeptide chains. They perform a vast array of functions inside a cell, including catalyzing reactions, acting as messengers, creating structures, and transport and storage.
DNA - Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) is the carrier of genetic information. DNA is located inside the nucleus and is the genetic 'code' that determines genes. DNA relates to protein synthesis because it is what mRNA is copied from.
mRNA - mRNA (messenger RNA) is a type of RNA that caries information. A mRNA molecule carries a specific sequence of DNA outside the nucleus into the cytoplasm for processing. mRNA is created during transcription, when a section of DNA is copied into an mRNA strand by a RNA polymerase. For protein synthesis, the mRNA contains the codons that match with anti-codons which create the polypeptide chains.
Transcription - Transcription is the process of copying the information of a DNA sequence into an mRNA strand. This involves a RNA polymerase attaching to the specific part of the DNA strand, unwinding it, copying one end, and then rewinding the DNA back. This new mRNA strand leaves the nucleus and then finds a ribosome to initiate translation.
Amino Acids - Amino acids are simple organic compounds. Every amino acid has the same structure, 1 amino group, 1 carboxyl group, 1 carbon, 1 hydrogen, and 1 side-chain. The side-chain is what differs in each amino acid, creating the 20 different types.
Polypeptide Chain - Polypeptide chains are chains of many amino acids, held by amide bonds. These polypeptide chains are what create proteins.
Ribosome - Ribosomes are small cellular compounds comprised of ribosomal RNA and many proteins Ribosomes exist in large numbers in the cytoplasm of the cell as well as in the endoplasmic reticulum. Their job is to create polypeptide chains.
Folding - Protein folding is the process of taking the polypeptide chains and folding them into domains, which are then folded into proteins. All proteins are formed of polypeptide chains, and the function of the protein is affected by how the chains fold into the 3D protein structure.
Protein - Proteins are large macromolecules which are comprised of polypeptide chains. They perform a vast array of functions inside a cell, including catalyzing reactions, acting as messengers, creating structures, and transport and storage.
Reflection
Over the course of this unit, I learned a lot about how things have changed to be the way they are today. One thing I learned is how to properly conduct a lab and that one small mistake may change the entire outcome of the lab. One struggle that I had was staying on task. We often had a time crunch in the end of our projects, When our group did work,we collaborated and worked proficiently to finish our project. I have learned from the mistakes that we made during the PCR lab and I will work to try and make everything that I do during the lab as precise as possible.