TASK
In this lab, we were supposed to research how a deficiency or folding of a protein in someone's body can cause a disease. We chose to research how this affects colorblindness. Colorblindness is caused by a mutation in the CRX gene which produces the cone-rod homeobox protein. This deficiency changes the way your cone cells are maintained. Then, we were supposed to make a Gantt chart as well as a poster presentation showing our protein.
CONCEPTS
DNA - Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) is the carrier of genetic information. DNA is located inside the nucleus and is the genetic 'code' that determines genes. DNA relates to protein synthesis because it is what mRNA is copied from.
mRNA - mRNA (messenger RNA) is a type of RNA that caries information. A mRNA molecule carries a specific sequence of DNA outside the nucleus into the cytoplasm for processing. mRNA is created during transcription, when a section of DNA is copied into an mRNA strand by a RNA polymerase. For protein synthesis, the mRNA contains the codons that match with anti-codons which create the polypeptide chains.
Transcription - Transcription is the process of copying the information of a DNA sequence into an mRNA strand. This involves a RNA polymerase attaching to the specific part of the DNA strand, unwinding it, copying one end, and then rewinding the DNA back. This new mRNA strand leaves the nucleus and then finds a ribosome to initiate translation.
Amino Acids - Amino acids are simple organic compounds. Every amino acid has the same structure, 1 amino group, 1 carboxyl group, 1 carbon, 1 hydrogen, and 1 side-chain. The side-chain is what differs in each amino acid, creating the 20 different types.
Polypeptide Chain - Polypeptide chains are chains of many amino acids, held by amide bonds. These polypeptide chains are what create proteins.
Ribosome - Ribosomes are small cellular compounds comprised of ribosomal RNA and many proteins Ribosomes exist in large numbers in the cytoplasm of the cell as well as in the endoplasmic reticulum. Their job is to create polypeptide chains.
Folding - Protein folding is the process of taking the polypeptide chains and folding them into domains, which are then folded into proteins. All proteins are formed of polypeptide chains, and the function of the protein is affected by how the chains fold into the 3D protein structure.
Protein - Proteins are large macromolecules which are comprised of polypeptide chains. They perform a vast array of functions inside a cell, including catalyzing reactions, acting as messengers, creating structures, and transport and storage.
mRNA - mRNA (messenger RNA) is a type of RNA that caries information. A mRNA molecule carries a specific sequence of DNA outside the nucleus into the cytoplasm for processing. mRNA is created during transcription, when a section of DNA is copied into an mRNA strand by a RNA polymerase. For protein synthesis, the mRNA contains the codons that match with anti-codons which create the polypeptide chains.
Transcription - Transcription is the process of copying the information of a DNA sequence into an mRNA strand. This involves a RNA polymerase attaching to the specific part of the DNA strand, unwinding it, copying one end, and then rewinding the DNA back. This new mRNA strand leaves the nucleus and then finds a ribosome to initiate translation.
Amino Acids - Amino acids are simple organic compounds. Every amino acid has the same structure, 1 amino group, 1 carboxyl group, 1 carbon, 1 hydrogen, and 1 side-chain. The side-chain is what differs in each amino acid, creating the 20 different types.
Polypeptide Chain - Polypeptide chains are chains of many amino acids, held by amide bonds. These polypeptide chains are what create proteins.
Ribosome - Ribosomes are small cellular compounds comprised of ribosomal RNA and many proteins Ribosomes exist in large numbers in the cytoplasm of the cell as well as in the endoplasmic reticulum. Their job is to create polypeptide chains.
Folding - Protein folding is the process of taking the polypeptide chains and folding them into domains, which are then folded into proteins. All proteins are formed of polypeptide chains, and the function of the protein is affected by how the chains fold into the 3D protein structure.
Protein - Proteins are large macromolecules which are comprised of polypeptide chains. They perform a vast array of functions inside a cell, including catalyzing reactions, acting as messengers, creating structures, and transport and storage.
REFLECTION
Over the course of this project, I learned a lot about how proteins make a huge effect on how your body functions. This topic interested me because family members of mine have suffered from these diseases and learning more about them was very interesting. One major thing that I learned was the use of the Gantt chart. The Gantt chart was used as an organizational tool for our group. I actually think that it was pretty helpful in assuring that we did everything that we had to do for this project. One peak of the project was at the very end when our group really started to pick up the pace on our work. One pit of the project was finding the protein that caused the disease. It took us an extremely long amount of time to find that protein. But, after we eventually found the protein, things picked up and we were able to finish on time. Overall, I actually really enjoyed this project and it was very interesting to me.