Winter Assignment

So there is a small assignment for you to complete over the winter break.  
Click here for the slides, make a copy and fill them in.  Use the book resources as well as the internet to get answers to the information.  It is due the Friday we come back to school (that is Jan 9, 2015)
Also, please remember to share the newsletter with your parents (if you lost your copy, click here for a digital version)
Last, but not least, don't forget to also share the article and check out the plosone.org website over break.

Resubmission window extended until Dec 16th

Yes, that is right, you read correctly, all resubmissions (this includes EVERYONE) are available through Tuesday Dec 16th.  Please take advantage, fix things, and increase your grade! :)

Basic Genetics Review Problems

Go to the Biology Project (through U of A) website and complete all of the problems in the "Monohybrid Cross Problem Set" (in the Mendelian Genetics section).  Notice there is a vocabulary tab on the bottom of each page. . . 
We will whiteboard the questions tomorrow.

If you happen to finish them before the end of class, either move onto the "Sex-linked Inheritance Problem Set" or continue working on your final review

The best final review EVER ;)

Just what you have been waiting for. . . . .  .





The Final Review!!!!!! (cue applause here)


Seriously, please take some time to look over it and go to the links, take notes on your own for each objective, make flashcards, make a presentation, whatever will work for you so that you will be successful on the final next week! 

HHMI BioInteractive "Making of the Fittest"

Today we are going to watch a short video entitled, The Making of the Fittest: Natural Selection in Humans. Before we watch it, let's discuss the following questions

1. What do you know about sickle cell anemia?

2. Was, or is, malaria a problem in the United States?

3. What are some things you already know about human evolution?

4. How might a disease such as malaria play a role in human evolution?

You will have a copy of the questions to think about as you watch the video.  Click here for one to write your answers into.

Free Response Practice

Click here for the free response questions.  

Click here for the rubric and sample answer from question 2 (that we went over yesterday, it includes multiple student samples and explanations for the score received)

Pre-mRNA transcript processing

What are Introns?

And what about exons?  

How does mRNA "mature" so that it can leave the nucleus so that translation can happen?

If you are still having issues answering these questions, please watch the following animations.

Animation from the book  (you will have to log-in to view this one, it is in Chapter 9, "pre-mRNA transcript processing")

Another tutorial found through google ;) (go through each tab and take the 3 question quiz at the end)

For the remainder of the week, we are going to work on free response examples from the AP Biology test (click here for a preview)

Transcription/Translation Simulation (AKA James Bond, Cellular Spy)

Background:
"Central Dogma", a phrase coined by Francis Crick, is used to describe the flow of molecular information through a trio of macromolecules, DNA, RNA and protein.  A gene is a nucleotide sequence in DNA to which a specific genetic function can be assigned such as the production of the pigment for eye color. Genes provide the "blueprint" for the production of proteins,  Proteins are macromolecules that consist of one or more polypeptides that function as enzymes, hormones, antibodies or structural components of the cell.  

So how is information in nucleus-bound DNA expressed as proteins found throughout cells? Through the processes of transcription and translation.  The nucleic acid sequence of a gene on the coding strand of DNA is used to create a complementary nucleic acid sequence of messenger RNA (mRNA).  Messenger RNA, as the name implies, takes its genetic information or message out of the nucleus and into the cytoplasm of the cell.  This transfer of information from DNA to RNA is the process of transcription. Transcription generates a single-stranded mRNA complementary in sequence to the coding or sense strand of DNA,  Two other RNA intermediates important to translation and protein synthesis are similarly transcribed from specific gene sequences, ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and transfer RNA (tRNA). 

Once outside the nucleus, mRNA takes its genetic message from the nucleus to the ribosomes, the site of translation and protein synthesis. 

Translation converts the nucleotide sequence of the mRNA into a specific sequence of amino acids to produce a specific protein. Translation of mRNA is accomplished by translating a series of three (triplet) nucleotides, a triplet of nucleotides is called a codon, into the corresponding amino acid as specified in the Genetic Code (see chart below).  The genetic code consists of the three-letter codons present in the nucleotide sequence of mRNA, as read in the 5' -- 3' direction. For example, the first triplet found in all mRNA as transcribed from DNA is composed of the bases, adenine, uracil and guanine (AUG) and translates into methionine (Met), the translation initiator sequence.  Without the AUG sequence, translation will not take place.

Objective:
You are "cellular spies".  You will be given a "clue" (a segment of DNA), working in pairs, you must transcribe it into mRNA (your strand includes flanking sequences and introns not used in the final mature mRNA), and then move around the room, looking for the correct bead color to translate it into an amino acid sequence.

Codon chart or wheel (use whichever you prefer)

Amino acid/pop pead key

Amino Acid	Pop Bead color
Arginine (Arg)	White
Cysteine (Cys)	Black
Lysine (Lys)	Red
Proline (Pro)	Green
Tyrosine (Tyr)	Yellow
Methionine (Met)	Blue
Valine (Val)	Purple
Phenylalanine (Phe)	Orange