LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

QUARTER 3-WEEK 4

Name: ________________________________________________ Score: _______

Grade & Section: __________________________________ Subject: SCIENCE 10
Name of Teacher: _________________________________ Date: _____________

I. Title: Protein Synthesis and Mutation

II. Type of Activity: Concept notes with formative activities

LAS for summative assessment

( Written Work Performance Task)

III. MELCs: Explain how protein is made using information from DNA (S10LT-IIId-37)
and Explain how mutations may cause changes in the structure and function of a
protein (S10LT-IIIe-38).

IV. Learning Objective/s:

• Trace the process of protein synthesis which includes replication, transcription
and translation;
• Discuss how mutations can change the structure and function of protein; and
• Infer on protein synthesis as a vital process of life and reflect on the factors which
might disrupt it.

V. Reference/s:
Print Material/s:

Science 10 Learner’s Material. Department of Education-Instructional

Materials Council Secretariat. pp. 268-290.

Discover Science 10. Diwa Learning Systems, Inc., pp. 191- 202

Online Resource/s:
DNA replication. Retrieved at https://www.yourgenome.org/facts/what-
is-dna-replication on January 24, 2021.

DNA Replication. Retrieved at

https://youtube.com/watch?v=TNKWgcFPHqw&feature=share
on February 15, 2021.

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 DNA transcription. Retrieved at www.khanacademy.org>ap-biology on
February 16, 2021.

DNA transcription and translation. Retrieved at

https://youtube.com/watch?v=8_f-8ISZ164&feature=share on
February 21, 2021.

Mutation. Retrieved at:

https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/genetic-mutation-
441/ on February 23, 2021.

VI. Concept notes

PROTEIN SYNTHESIS AND MUTATION
Building a house usually requires a blueprint, or a plan of the structure of the
house to determine how it would look like after construction. Organisms have blueprint
which contain information that will determine their physical and chemical properties.
This blueprint is DNA.
Nucleic Acids
Nucleic acids are organic compounds that function as storage of genetic
information, which is transmitted from one generation to the next in all living organisms.
It is the physical carrier of inheritance that is passed from parents to offspring. Nucleic
acids also function in protein synthesis as they carry the code needed in the formation
of specific proteins.
There are two types of nucleic acids found in living organisms:
1. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
2. RNA (ribonucleic acid)

Both types are made up of basic building blocks called nucleotides. Each
nucleotide is composed one phosphate group, one sugar molecule, and one of the
four bases, adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C).
Ribonucleic acid (RNA) structure differs from DNA as shown in figure 2. RNA
is single stranded whereas DNA is double stranded. The sugar in RNA is ribose; DNA
has deoxyribose. Both RNA and DNA contain four nitrogenous bases, but instead of
thymine, RNA contains a similar base uracil (U). The uracil pairs with adenine.
The major types of RNA include:
1. Messenger RNA (mRNA)
2. Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)
3. Transfer RNA (tRNA)

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Figure 1. The long strand of DNA is wound within the chromosome inside the
nucleus of the cell

How are DNA and RNA alike and different?

Figure 2. RNA and DNA

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 Table 1. Difference Between DNA and DNA

DNA RNA
Sugar Deoxyribose ((C5H10O4) Ribose (C5H10O5)
Strand Double-stranded Single-stranded
Nitrogenous bases Adenine (A) Adenine (A)
Thymine (T) Uracil (U)
Cytosine (C) Cytosine (C)
Guanine (G) Guanine (G)
Location Mostly in the nucleus, but Mostly in the cytoplasm,
may also be found in but may also be found in
cytoplasm and the nucleus
mitochondria
Function Blueprint of biological Assists in carrying out
guidelines that living DNA’s blueprint guidelines
organisms must follow to
exist and function properly
Nitrogenous base pair A–T A–U
G–C G–C

Replication
In 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick worked out that DNA is double helix
like a twisted staircase. The two sugar- phosphate backbones make up the sides and
the base pairs make up the rungs or steps of the twisted staircase.
Deoxyribonucleic acid is copied during interphase prior to mitosis and meiosis.
It is important that new copies are exactly like the original molecule. The structure of
the DNA provides a mechanism for making accurate copies of the molecule. The
process of making copies of DNA is called replication. When DNA replicates, two
identical copies of DNA molecules are produced, which are the same as the original.
Steps in DNA Replication
1. The first step in DNA replication is to “unzip” the double helix structure of the
DNA molecule.

2. This is carried out by an enzyme called helicase which breaks the hydrogen
bonds holding the complementary bases of DNA together (A with T, C with G).

3. The separation of the two single strands of DNA creates a “Y” shape called
replication fork. The two separated strands will act as template for making the
new strands of DNA.

4. One of the strands is oriented in the 3’ to 5’ direction (towards the replication

fork), this is the leading strand. The other strand is oriented in the 5’ to 3’
direction (away from the replication fork), this is called the lagging strand. As
a result of their different orientation, the two strands are replicated differently:

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 Figure 3. An illustration to show replication of the leading and lagging strands of
DNA.
Image credit: Genome Research Limited

Leading Strand Lagging Strand

A short piece of RNA called primer Numerous RNA primers are made by
(produced by an enzyme called primase) primase enzyme and bind at various
comes along and binds to the end of the points along the lagging strand.
leading strand. The primer acts as the
starting point for DNA synthesis.
DNA polymerase binds to the leading Chunks of DNA, called Okazaki
strand and then walks along it, adding fragments, are then added to the
new complementary nucleotide bases lagging strand also in the 5’ to 3’
(A, C, G, and T) to the strand of DNA in direction.
the 5’ to 3’ direction
This sort of replication is called This type of replication is called
continuous. discontinuous as the Okazaki fragments
will need to be joined up later

5. Once all the bases are matched up (A with T, C with G), an enzyme called
exonuclease strips away the primer(s). the gaps where the primer(s) we are
then filled by yet more complementary nucleotides.
6. The new strand is proofread to make sure that there are no mistakes in the new
DNA sequence.
7. Finally, and enzyme called DNA ligase seals up the sequence of DNA into two
continuous double strands.
8. The result of DNA replication is two DNA molecules consisting of one new and
one old chain of nucleotides. Therefore, DNA replication is described as semi-
conservative, half of the chain is part of the original DNA molecule, half is brand
new.

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 Following replication, the new DNA automatically winds up into a double helix.

Figure 4: DNA replication

To understand better DNA replication, you can follow the link:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=TNKWgcFPHqw&feature=share.

There are three types of RNA that help build proteins. These RNA molecules
are the workers in the production of protein.
1. One type of RNA, messenger RNA (mRNA) brings information from the DNA in
the nucleus to the protein manufacturing area, the cytoplasm. In the cytoplasm,
the mRNA becomes the template of information to make proteins.
2. Ribosomes, made of ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and ribosomal proteins hold tightly
into the mRNA using its information to assemble the amino acids in correct
order.
3. Transfer RNA (tRNA) supplies amino acids to the ribosome to be assembled
as protein.
PROTEIN SYNTHESIS
Protein synthesis is the process in which cells make proteins. It occurs in two
stages: transcription and translation.

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Transcription
Transcription is the first step in protein synthesis. It is a process in which gene
coding for a specific protein in DNA is copied into RNA. The process of transcription
takes place in the nucleus of the cell.
DNA is not converted directly into proteins in protein synthesis. The process of
transcription preserves the genetic information and prevents the DNA from being
damaged. Also, transcription multiplies the number of DNA by making numerous
copies of RNA which are used as templates in protein synthesis. This enables a single
cell to produce large quantities of proteins from the genetic information present in its
DNA.
Steps in Protein Synthesis
1. Initiation. The process of transcription begins when an enzyme called RNA
polymerase binds into a DNA strand. The area in which the RNA polymerase
attaches itself is called promoter region. Specific nucleotide sequences
determine where the RNA polymerase will start or finish the process.
2. Elongation. In the process of elongation, specific proteins called transcription
factors unwind the DNA strand which enables RNA polymerase to copy a single
strand of DNA into a single-stranded RNA molecule called messenger RNA or
mRNA. The strand that is transcribed is called the antisense strand, while the
strand that is not transcribed is called the sense strand. In the process of
transcription, complementary nucleotide bases are added. However, DNA
contains thymine while RNA has uracil, so when DNA is transcribed into RNA,
adenine is paired with uracil (and not thymine).
3. Termination. In this step, when the RNA polymerase reached an area called
termination sequence, it releases the mRNA strand and detaches from the
DNA. Once the process of transcription is over, the newly generated mRNA
migrates from the nucleus into the cytoplasm for translation.

Figure 5. Trascription Process

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 In transcription, a region of DNA opens. One strand, the template strand, serves
as a template for synthesis of a complementary RNA transcript. The other strand, the
coding strand, is identical to the RNA transcript in sequence, except that it has uracil
(U) bases in place of thymine (T) bases.

Example:

Coding strand: 5'-ATGATCTCGTAA-3'

Template strand: 3'-TACTAGAGCATT-5'
RNA transcript: 5'-AUGAUCUCGUAA-3'
RNA polymerase
The main enzyme involved in transcription is RNA polymerase, which uses a
single-stranded DNA template to synthesize a complementary strand of RNA.
Specifically, RNA polymerase builds an RNA strand in the 5' to 3' direction, adding
each new nucleotide to the 3' end of the strand.

RNA polymerase synthesizes an RNA strand complementary to a template

DNA strand. It synthesizes the RNA strand in the 5' to 3' direction, while reading the
template DNA strand in the 3' to 5' direction. The template DNA strand and RNA strand
are antiparallel.
RNA transcript: 5'-UGGUAGU...-3' (dots indicate where nucleotides are still
being added at 3' end)
DNA template: 3'-ACCATCAGTC-5'
Translation
The process of protein synthesis ends through the process of translation. In this
process, the generated mRNA must be translated to produce a protein. The
ribosomes, mRNA, and tRNA work together in the process of translation.

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Steps in Translation
1. The mRNA molecule attaches itself to a ribosome. A ribosome is made up of
two parts: one large subunit and one small subunit. The small subunit has a
binding site for mRNA, while the large subunit has two binding sites for tRNA
called the P binding site and the A binding site.

2. The ribosomes read the mRNA sequence in a 5’ to 3’ direction. The mRNA is

converted into protein using tRNA. The mRNA is read by the ribosomes three
nucleotides at a time. Every three adjacent nucleotide sequences code for a
specific amino acid. These adjacent nucleotides are called codons. The tRNA
has complementary nucleotide sequences for each codon. These sequences
are called anticodon. Attached to a tRNA is a specific amino acid.

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 Using the universal genetic code chart, each amino acid is coded by
three mRNA bases arranged in sequences. The first mRNA base in a codon is
located on the left side of the chart, the second base is on the top, and the third
base is on the right side.

3. Following the binding of the mRNA molecules to the ribosome is the binding of
the tRNA molecules to the P binding site, which leaves the A binding site open.
When the next tRNA molecule recognizes the next codon sequences, it will bind
itself to the A site. A peptide bond will form between the two amino acids which
are being held by two tRNA molecules.

4. After the formation of the bonds, the initiator tRNA will leave the binding site
and will cause the tRNA in A site to move to the P site, leaving the A site vacant
once again. The nest set of codons in mRNA becomes available for recognition
and binding of a respective tRNA and the process continues.

5. The ribosome will continue to translate the mRNA until it arrives at a codon
which signals the translation to stop. When this happens, the new polypeptide
chain is released and is free to unite with the pool of proteins in the cytoplasm.

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 The initiator tRNA resides in one binding site of the ribosome, the P site, leaving
the A site open. When the new tRNA molecule recognizes the next codon sequence
on the mRNA, it attaches to the open A site. A peptide bond forms connecting the
amino acids of the tRNA in the P site to the amino acids of the tRNA in the A site.
Example 1: Determine the anticodons in tRNA and the corresponding amino acids
based on the given mRNA molecules.
Coding Strand: 5’ AGT CCA ATG CGA TTA 3’
Template strand: UCA GGU UAC GCU AAU (mRNA)
RNA Transcript/Anticodon: AGU CCA AUG CGA UUA
Polypeptides/Amino Acids: Ser-Gly-Tyr-Ala-Asn
Example 2:

Coding strand: 5'-ATGATCTCGTAA-3'

Template strand: ________________________
RNA transcript: ________________________
Polypeptides: _________________________
The summary of protein synthesis is outlined below.

Figure: Transfer of Genetic Information

For more information follow: https://youtube.com/watch?v=8_f-

8ISZ164&feature=share.

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 MUTATION

A mutation is a change in a DNA sequence of a gene. Mutations can result from

DNA copying mistakes made during cell division, exposure to ionizing radiation,
exposure to chemicals called mutagens, or infection by viruses. Germ line mutations
occur in the eggs and sperm and can be passed on to offspring, while somatic
mutations occur in body cells and are not passed on.
Proteins are important for cell structure and function. The type of protein that a
cell produces is dictated by the codes in the DNA. A change in the gene code or
sequencing of the DNA results in the production of a protein different from what is
needed. Consequently, an inappropriate protein produced leads to malfunction or
death of a cell.
Types of Mutation
Mutations can occur in two different types of cells: reproductive cells and body
cells. Only mutations in sex cells pass on to the offspring. Mutations affect the
reproductive cells of an organism by changing the sequence of nucleotides within a
gene in a sperm or an egg cell. If these cells are fertilized, then the mutated gene
becomes a part of the genetic material of the offspring. If mutation is severe, the
resulting protein may be nonfunctional, and the embryo may not develop. There are
two types of mutations that occur in gamete cells:
1. Gene mutation is a permanent change in the DNA sequence that makes
up a gene.

2. Chromosomal mutation occurs at the chromosome level resulting in gene

deletion, duplication or rearrangement that may occur during the cell cycle
and meiosis. The normal process of crossing-over and recombination may
be affected, such that chromosomes break and reunite the wrong segments.
Many diseases are caused by the effects of inherited genes. In most cases,
there is only a small difference between DNA sequences in the defective gene and a
normal one. This difference is enough to cause serious and often fatal diseases. These
disease-causing genes are the result of a mutation. They may be passed from one
generation to the next if present in gametes.
Types of DNA Mutations and their Impact
Class of Types of Description DNA Sequence Human
Mutation Mutation Diseases
Linked to this
Mutation
Sickle-cell
Point anemiasisickle-cell
Substituti One base is (NORMAL
Mutation on incorrectly added Sequence)
during replication AUG GCC TGC
and replaces the AAA CGC TGG
pair in the met -ala - cys lys
corresponding arg- trp
position on
the complementary AUG GCT TGC
Silent strand AAA CGC TGG

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 Met –ala –cys –lys
–arg –trp

AUG GCC TGA

Nonsens AAA CGC TGG
e Met – ala - … - …
-… -…

AUG GCC GGC

AAA CGC TGG
Missense Met – ala- arg- lys
– arg – trp
Insertion One or more extra AUG GCC C TGC
nucleotides are AAA CGC TGG
One form of
inserted into met – ala -leu – gln
beta-
replicating DNA, – thr – leu
thalassemia
often resulting in a
frameshift
Deletion One or more AUG GC- TGC
nucleotides is AAA CGC TGG
"skipped" during Met – ala – glu –
replication or asn – ala Cystic fibrosis
otherwise excised,
often resulting in a
frameshift
Chromoso Inversion One region of a
mal chromosome is
Mutation flipped and Opitz-
reinserted. Kaveggia synd
rome

A region of a
chromosome is
lost, resulting in the
Cri du
absence of all the
Deletion chat syndrome
genes in that area.

A region of a
chromosome is Some cancers
repeated, resulting Charcot-
Duplicatio
in an increase in Marie-Tooth
n
dosage from the disease
genes in that region

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 A region from one
chromosome is
Transloca One form of
aberrantly attached
tion leukemia
to another
chromosome

Human Genetic Disorders

The effects of structural changes depend on their size and location, and
whether any genetic material is gained or lost, the gain or loss of chromosome material
can lead to a variety of genetic disorders.
Examples are the following:

1. Down’s syndrome is usually caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21

(trisomy). Characteristics include decreased muscle tone, stockier build,
asymmetrical skull, slanting eyes mild to moderate mental retardation.

2. Edward’s syndrome is a trisomy of chromosome 18. Symptoms include

mental and motor retardation and numerous congenital anomalies causing
serious health problems. Those with Edward’s syndrome have a
characteristic hand appearance with clenched hands and overlapping
fingers.

3. Jacobsen syndrome is also called terminal 11q deletion disorder. Those

affected have normal intelligence or mild mental retardation, with poor or
excessive language skills. Most have a bleeding disorder called Paris-
Trousseau syndrome.

4. Klinefelter’s syndrome (XXY). Men with this condition are usually sterile
and tend to have longer arms and legs than their peers. They are often shy
and quiet and have a higher incidence of speech delay.

5. Turner’s syndrome (X instead of XX or XY). Female sexual characteristics

are present but underdeveloped. They often have a short stature, low
hairline, abnormal eye features and bone development and a “caved-in”
appearance to the chest.

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 YOU CAN DO THIS!
Task 1. See My Name. Decipher the missing letters and/or the addition of letter(s)
from the pictures to form meaningful word/s.
1. _______________

__________E
2. _______________

_____dorant ___lophone _____ver

3. _______________

___te _____f

4. _______________

__________ _____S _________

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 5. _______________

4768 + 507
+ 38 =
BILLY ____FORD ____IRA ______

Task 2. What Am I? Arrange the jumbled letters to form the term that is being
described in each number.

1. Type of RNA that translates the message within the nucleotide sequence of
mRNA to a specific amino acid sequence ( tasenrrARN)

2. Importnt nucleotide used in sysnthesizing protein moecules needed by the

cells (celcnubirio diac)

3. Type of nucleic acid present in the nucleus and the mitochondrion

(exrinbuolecicoyd cdai)

4. Complementary nucleotide sequence for each codon of the tRNA

(itaonondc)

5. Enzyme required to initiate the process of transcription (NRA erymopasel)

Task 3. Multiple Choice. Choose which best fits to answer each item. Write the letter
only.

1. Which of the following statements about DNA and RNA is incorrect?

a. Both have cytosine as a base.
b. Both are composed of a nitrogenous base.
c. The DNA copies specific instructions from the RNA.
d. DNA is a double-stranded helix while RNA is a single-stranded helix.

2. The DNA has the two chains held together by ______.

a. covalent bonds
b. hydrogen bonds
c. ionic bonds
d. polypeptide bonds

3. If the sequence of bases along one side of a DNA molecule is AAGCT, the
complimentary sequence of bases on the other side of the DNA molecule is
_______.
a. AAGCT b. UUCGA c. GGTAC d. TTCGA

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 4. Which one of these is not a valid comparison between DNA and RNA?
DNA RNA
a. double helix single stranded
b. replicates duplicates
c. deoxyribose ribose
d. thymine uracil

5. mRNA is formed from DNA. This process is called __________.

a. transcription b. translation
c. replication d. duplication

YOU CAN DO MORE!

Task 4. Identification. Each combinations of nitrogen bases on the mRNA molecule
is a codon, which is a three-letter code for a specific amino acid. Use the Genetic Code
Table to answer the questions.

1. The codon for tryptophan is __________.

2. For leucine, there are __________ different codons.

3. The codon GAU is for __________.

4. -5. In a stop codon, if the second base is G, the first and third bases are
__________ and __________.

Task 5. What is in my Name? Complete the boxes below. Classify each as either
Frameshift or Point mutations, then specify further with Deletion, Insertion, or
Substitution. Use the Genetic Code Chart in order to determine the amino acid
sequence.
Original DNA Sequence: TAC ACC TTG GCG ACG ACT

mRNA Sequence: AUG UGG AAC CGC UGC UGA

Amino Acid Sequence: Met - Trp - Asn - Arg - Cys - STOP

Mutated DNA Sequence 1: TAC ACC TTG GCG ACT ACT

What’s the mRNA sequence? (Circle the change)

____________________________
What will be the amino acid sequence:
____________________________
Will there likely be effects?
____________________________

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 What kind of mutation is this?
____________________________

Mutated DNA sequence 2: TAC ACC TTG GGA CGA CT

What’s the mRNA sequence (Circle the change)

_____________________________
What will be the amino acid sequence:
______________________________
Will there likely be effects?
______________________________
What kind of mutations is this?
______________________________

Task 6. Which Comes First. Sequence the following steps in protein synthesis from
the first to last (1-6).
__________ A. Transcription
__________ B. tRNA – amino acid units link to mRNA
__________ C. Amino acid separate from tRNA
__________ D. Polypeptide chain assembled
__________ E. mRNA links to ribosome
__________ F. Stop codon encountered in mRNA

CHALLENGE YOURSELF!
Task 7. Let’s Analyze. Analyze the diagram below and give your honest
interpretation.

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Task 8. Let’s Organize. Make an illustration on the process of protein synthesis using
the arrows below.

Task 9. See Me Through. Read and analyze the questions. Choose the letter of the
best answer.

1. The following model represents the elongation stage of protein translation.

Which arrow represents an amino acid being added to a growing polypeptide
chain?

a. Arrow 1 b. Arrow 2 c. Arrow 3 d. Arrow 4

2. The following symbols represent enzymes involved in DNA replication.

Given the symbols above, which of the following diagrams most accurately
depicts the process of DNA replication?

a.

b.

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 c.

d.
3. The following diagram shows a double-stranded DNA molecule. Which of the
following represents the correct mRNA molecule that will result from the
transcription of the DNA molecule?

a.

b.

c.

d.

4. Consider the following nucleotide sequence, which represents an mRNA

molecule:

5’ -ACUCCGAUGUUUGUUCCCUGCUGA- 3'

Use the following codon table to translate the mRNA molecule into its
corresponding polypeptide sequence, beginning at the first available start codon.

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 Which of the following represents the correct translation of the mRNA molecule,
starting at the first available start codon?
a. Met-Phe-Val-Pro-Cys
b. Met-Thr-Asp-Val-Cys-Ser-Leu-Leu
c. Asn-His-Phe-Val-Pro-Cys
d. Thr-Asp-Val-Cys-Ser-Leu-Leu

LEVEL UP!
Tasks 10-12. Differentiated Task
GOAL Your goal is to help parents to be informed on how to take
good care of their children who have genetic disorders.
ROLE You are an artist.
AUDIENCE Parents of children with genetic disorders.
SITUATION The school is celebrating its annual Children’s Week. One
of the activities during the celebration is to give guidance
counselling and a seminar on how to take good care of
children wih genetic disorders. After the seminar, pamphlets
will be distributed.
PRODUCT/PERFORMANCE Choose one of the following:

PRODUCT 1: Design a cover page for the pamphlet.

PRODUCT 2: Illustrate different ways on how to take good
care of children who are suffering from hereditary genetic
disorders.
PRODUCT 3: Create a graphic organiser on how to take
good care of children with genetic disorders.
STANDARDS The products will be assessed on the following:
1. Clarity of Concept
2. Completeness

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