Protein Factory
Source Institutions
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My Science Box
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In this activity, learners take on the role of various parts of the cell in order to model the process of protein synthesis. Each learner receives a card describing, step by step, what s/he should be doing. Learners play the roles of either RNA codons, an RNA polymerase, messenger RNA, a ribosome, or transfer RNA. This activity is designed for a large group of 30 learners, but could be used with smaller groups of at least 10 learners. [Activity is publicly available through a web crawler capture on Archive.org.]
- 1 to 2 hours
- 45 to 60 minutes
- $1 - $5 per group of students
- Ages 11 - 18
- Activity, Lesson/Lesson Plan, Simulation
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- Genetic Code handout
- 1 assembled paper DNA model, 60 base pairs long (1 codon per student acting as a tRNA)
- Factory Instructions (follow the teacher instructions on the top of the page for how many copies of each to make)
- DNA puzzle pieces, each on a different colored paper
- Scissors
- 8 rolls of Scotch tape
- Bins or trays on which to keep the puzzle pieces
Subjects
- Life Sciences
- Cells
- Cell Structure and Function
- Chemistry of Life
- Heredity and Genetics
- Human Genetics
- DNA Structure and Function
- Cells
Informal Categories
- Model Building
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- see color
- read
- hear
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
Components that are part of this resource:
Includes alignment to state and/or national standards
Includes assesments for student learning
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
- Salter, Irene
Rights:
- Creative Commons, Irene Salter,
Funding Source:
- Rose Foundation
