URA Ribosome

Section 1
On the following page there are two DNA sequences which code for a small section of the
protein Hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is important in the transport of oxygen throughout the
body. Red blood cells which are nearly all hemoglobin are normally shaped like a disc. A
disease known as Sickle Cell Anemia causes the rbc’s to become elongated (Sickle Shaped).
This abnormal shape results in a decrease in the cells ability to carry oxygen and an increased
chance that the cell will clog the tiny tissue capillaries causing tissue damage and death.

The substitution of one amino acid in the long hemoglobin chain is believed responsible for
this usually fatal condition. Your mission is to determine where on the chain this mistake has
occurred. Fill out both sides of the page and determine which is normal and which the sickle
cell is. Circle the correct answer on the back side. Hint: The mutation causes a Valine to
replace a Glutamic Acid in the normal chain.
DNA mRNA tRNA Amino DNA mRNA tRNA Amino
Gene Codon anticodon Acid Gene codon anticodon Acid

T AUG Met T
A A
C C
C C
A A
A A
G G
T T
G G
G G
A A
T T
T T
G G
A A
G G
G G
T T
C C
A T
T T
C C
T T
T C
T T
T T
C T
A A
T T
T C

NORMAL OR SICKLE? (circle one) NORMAL OR SICKLE? (circle one)

You have just invented a machine called a DNA sequencer. This machine reads the sequence
of amino acids in a protein and then working backwards it can produce a piece of DNA. In
your first trial run of the machine you want to check its accuracy, so you give it a short piece
of a protein to sequence. You will also have to work out the sequence by hand. Following is
the sequence of amino acids which make up part of this protein. Show on a separate piece of
paper what this DNA will look like. (hint- DNA is double stranded; you will need to make
the mRNA first; a stop sequence is necessary.) This should end up being 21 bases long(7
codons). Draw this on a separate piece of paper and take a picture and paste it below.

Methionine

Lysine
Arginine
Aspartic acid
Glycine

Isoleucine
Stop

AA mRNA DNA

Met AUG TA
AT
CG