Protein to Disease Lab
Description
During the Protein to Disease Lab, we were tasked with researching a disease caused by errors in protein synthesis. We were supposed to describe in detail how a protein can cause a disease. We were supposed to tell what protein synthesis is, and give general background on the disease. Finally we were supposed to present our findings to the class.
Content
Protein- any of a class of nitrogenous organic compounds that consist of large molecules composed of one or more long chains of amino acids and are an essential part of all living organisms, especially as structural components of body tissues such as muscle, hair, collagen, etc., and as enzymes and antibodies
Protein Synthesis- the process by which individual amino acids are connected to each other in a specific order dictated by the nucleotide sequence in DNA, which also involves the processes of transcription and translation. Protein synthesis is process by which the genetic code puts together proteins in the cell. Protein synthesis involves three main steps: transcription, translation, and protein folding.
Disease- a disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that produces specific signs or symptoms or that affects a specific location and is not simply a direct result of physical injury
Cell- the smallest structural and functional unit of an organism, typically microscopic and consisting of cytoplasm and a nucleus enclosed in a membrane. Microscopic organisms typically consist of a single cell, which is either eukaryotic or prokaryotic
DNA- deoxyribonucleic acid, a self-replicating material present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information
RNA Molecule- Short for ribonucleic acid. The nucleic acid that is used in key metabolic processes for all steps of protein synthesis in all living cells and carries the genetic information of many viruses. Unlike double-stranded DNA, RNZ consists of a single strand of nucleotides, and it occurs in a variety of lengths and shapes
mRNA- the m in mRNA stands for messenger. the molecule carries a portion of the DNA code to other parts of the cell for processing and is created during transcription, where a single strand of DNA is decoded by RNA polymerase, and mRNA is synthesized
tRNA- the t in tRNA stands for transfer. molecules that carry amino acids to the ribosome for polymerization into a polypeptide. During translation the amino acid is inserted into the growing polypeptide chain when the anticodon of the tRNA pairs with a codon on the mRNA being translated
Gene Mutation- a permanent alteration in the DNA sequence that makes up a gene, such that the sequence differs from what is found in most people. Mutations range in size; they can affect anywhere from a single DNA building block (base pair) to a large segment of a chromosome that includes multiple genes
Translation- The process by which mRNA directs protein synthesis with the assistance of tRNA
Transcription- the process by which the information in a strand of DNA is copied into a new molecule of messenger RNA (mRNA). DNA safely and stably stores genetic material in the nuclei of cells as a reference, or template
Ribosome- a minute particle consisting of RNA and associated proteins, found in large numbers in the cytoplasm of living cells. They bind messenger RNA and transfer RNA to synthesize polypeptides and proteins
Amino Acid- a simple organic compound containing both a carboxyl (—COOH) and an amino (—NH2) group
Codon- a sequence of three nucleotides that together form a unit of genetic code in a DNA or RNA molecule. One codon contains the information for a specific amino acid.
Anti-Codon- a sequence of three nucleotides forming a unit of genetic code in a transfer RNA molecule, corresponding to a complementary codon in messenger RNA
Polypeptide Chain- a single linear chain of many amino acids, held together by amide bonds. A protein consists of one or more polypeptides (more than about 50 amino acids long). An oligopeptide consists of only a few amino acids (between two and twenty)
Folding- the process by which a protein structure assumes its functional shape or conformation. All protein molecules are heterogeneous unbranched chains of amino acids. By coiling and folding into a specific three-dimensional shape they are able to perform their biological function.
During the Protein to Disease Lab, we were tasked with researching a disease caused by errors in protein synthesis. We were supposed to describe in detail how a protein can cause a disease. We were supposed to tell what protein synthesis is, and give general background on the disease. Finally we were supposed to present our findings to the class.
Content
Protein- any of a class of nitrogenous organic compounds that consist of large molecules composed of one or more long chains of amino acids and are an essential part of all living organisms, especially as structural components of body tissues such as muscle, hair, collagen, etc., and as enzymes and antibodies
Protein Synthesis- the process by which individual amino acids are connected to each other in a specific order dictated by the nucleotide sequence in DNA, which also involves the processes of transcription and translation. Protein synthesis is process by which the genetic code puts together proteins in the cell. Protein synthesis involves three main steps: transcription, translation, and protein folding.
Disease- a disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that produces specific signs or symptoms or that affects a specific location and is not simply a direct result of physical injury
Cell- the smallest structural and functional unit of an organism, typically microscopic and consisting of cytoplasm and a nucleus enclosed in a membrane. Microscopic organisms typically consist of a single cell, which is either eukaryotic or prokaryotic
DNA- deoxyribonucleic acid, a self-replicating material present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information
RNA Molecule- Short for ribonucleic acid. The nucleic acid that is used in key metabolic processes for all steps of protein synthesis in all living cells and carries the genetic information of many viruses. Unlike double-stranded DNA, RNZ consists of a single strand of nucleotides, and it occurs in a variety of lengths and shapes
mRNA- the m in mRNA stands for messenger. the molecule carries a portion of the DNA code to other parts of the cell for processing and is created during transcription, where a single strand of DNA is decoded by RNA polymerase, and mRNA is synthesized
tRNA- the t in tRNA stands for transfer. molecules that carry amino acids to the ribosome for polymerization into a polypeptide. During translation the amino acid is inserted into the growing polypeptide chain when the anticodon of the tRNA pairs with a codon on the mRNA being translated
Gene Mutation- a permanent alteration in the DNA sequence that makes up a gene, such that the sequence differs from what is found in most people. Mutations range in size; they can affect anywhere from a single DNA building block (base pair) to a large segment of a chromosome that includes multiple genes
Translation- The process by which mRNA directs protein synthesis with the assistance of tRNA
Transcription- the process by which the information in a strand of DNA is copied into a new molecule of messenger RNA (mRNA). DNA safely and stably stores genetic material in the nuclei of cells as a reference, or template
Ribosome- a minute particle consisting of RNA and associated proteins, found in large numbers in the cytoplasm of living cells. They bind messenger RNA and transfer RNA to synthesize polypeptides and proteins
Amino Acid- a simple organic compound containing both a carboxyl (—COOH) and an amino (—NH2) group
Codon- a sequence of three nucleotides that together form a unit of genetic code in a DNA or RNA molecule. One codon contains the information for a specific amino acid.
Anti-Codon- a sequence of three nucleotides forming a unit of genetic code in a transfer RNA molecule, corresponding to a complementary codon in messenger RNA
Polypeptide Chain- a single linear chain of many amino acids, held together by amide bonds. A protein consists of one or more polypeptides (more than about 50 amino acids long). An oligopeptide consists of only a few amino acids (between two and twenty)
Folding- the process by which a protein structure assumes its functional shape or conformation. All protein molecules are heterogeneous unbranched chains of amino acids. By coiling and folding into a specific three-dimensional shape they are able to perform their biological function.
Reflection
Over all, this was one of my favorite projects to date. I thought our final product turned out well, more specifically the brochure has a lot of information without looking too wordy. I think our final presentation went alright but could have been better, more specifically we did not make eye contact with the audience the majority of the time and our pronunciation of a few terms was incorrect. I learned that I can follow directions very well if I understand them (like when someone told me I should research and take notes on treatments and medicine for Marfan's), and I learned how to use a Gantt chart (a time management tool), specifically the one we made to stay on track for our project. I think I could have been more of a leader and taken charge of a specific task instead of waiting for someone to assign it to me, like I waited to be assigned the research of treatments and medicines. I also think my work productivity was not up to standards because even though we finished the assignment on time, we definitely could have finished it much faster if we didn't waste time. For me, talking with other groups wasted time that could have been spent working on our brochure.