Smallest Human Gene Activity

Intro: After learning about protein synthesis, students needed a hands-on activity to get them out of
their seats, and model what they have just been taught.

Standards: (Michigan Merit Curriculum) B4.2f Demonstrate how the genetic information in DNA
molecules provides instructions for assembling protein molecules and that this is virtually the same
mechanism for all life forms.

Objectives: Students will be able to model the processes of protein synthesis.

Steps in the Lesson: Students will use the “Smallest Human Gene Activity” worksheet to make
tangible versions of the HIST1H3F protein. Working in teams of 12, students will receive one line of
DNA they are responsible for (2 lines in the case of student 12). Each student will take their line of
DNA and go through transcription, turning their line into mRNA. After transcription is done for
everyone in their group, they should write out the process for transcription (question #1). After,
students will take their mRNA, and go through translation. They will identify the codons and matching
amino acids. For each amino acid, there is a corresponding colored construction paper square. They
should assemble their line of amino acids. After their line is assembled, they should connect their
amino acid chain with the other chains in their group. They will end with a chain of amino acids for the
histone gene. After, students will take their protein and describe the process for translation (#2).

Closure: When all students have completed the activity, the groups should compare their completed
proteins. Ask students if their proteins are the same. If not, ask them what went wrong, and how
might a change in amino acid structure affect an organism as a whole. Have them complete question
#3 and turn in their worksheets.
Smallest Human Gene Activity Name: _______________________

Use the following DNA sequence to build the histone protein: HIST1H3F histone cluster 1 H3
family member f [ Homo sapiens (human) ]
1. Select one line from the DNA sequence.
2. Convert the DNA to mRNA
3. Use the Codon chart to convert to a protein sequence
4. Assemble the whole protein with your group, label each amino acid on
the corresponding color of construction paper before assembling

1 TAC CCT CCT TGT TTT AGG AGA CAT TAC TCC CTA GTG CTA CGG CGC TTT CAA

2 CTG AAA TTG TTG GTG GCT CTG AAA AGA GCC TTT GGT TTA AGT TGG CGC

3 ACA CCC TCA GTA CAA CTT ATG CCC TCT CTC CGC GAA TGC GGC GAG CGA

4 GCT GGA TGT CCT TGG GCA TGA TAG TCA CTC GCT TGG CGT GGA TAG CAC

5 ACA GGT TGG TGT CCT CAA AGA GCC CCA CCA GGT AAG CCT CGC AGG CCT

6 CCT GCA GCG CCA TCA CAG CCG AGC TCT GGA AGC GCA GGT CGG TCT TGA

7 AGT CCT GCG CGA TCT CAC GTA CCA GAC GCT GGA ATG GTA GCT TGC GAA

8 TCA GTA GCT CAG TCG ATG TCT GAT AGC GGC GGA TTT CAC GGA GGG CGA

9 CAG TAC CAG CCT GTA GCG GTG GGG CTT CTT CAC GCC ACC GGT GGC TGG

10 CGC GCT TTT GCG AGC CGC CTT AGT GGC CAG CTG CTT GCG CGG GGC TTT

11 GCC GCC AGT GGA CTT ACG AGC TGT TTG CTT CGT GCG TGC CAT AGG AAT

12 GGG TTT CAA GCA ATG GTC ACA TCT GAA CAA ACA GTT GTT CTT ACT CCT

13 ATT TAT ATC

1. Describe the process of transcription using the following words: DNA, mRNA, RNA
Polymerase, TATA box, terminator, single stranded, double stranded, splicing, and
nucleus.

2. Describe the process of translation using the following words: mRNA, amino acid,
protein, ribosome, cytoplasm, initiation, elongation, termination, tRNA, codon, and
anticodon.

3. How might a histone gene (histones play a central role in transcription regulation,
DNA repair, DNA replication and chromosomal stability) that is mutated affect an
organism?