Function Finders activity
- Type:
- Classroom activity / Web based activity
- Age level:
- 14 years +
- Topic area:
- Protein, protein structure, protein function
- Description:
An activity that can be carried out in the classroom or IT suite. Students can translate DNA sequences into a series of amino acids to discover which protein is coded for and its function. Students are supplied with a worksheet with DNA sequences and a codon wheel – a tool to decode the codons into amino acids. The amino acid sequence can either be entered into the Function Finders online database or used to search through a Protein Profile booklet to discover which protein contains the sequence and its function.
Running the activity:
- To run this activity, each student or pair of students requires:
- Student worksheet
- Codon Wheel sheet
- Web version: a computer with access to the internet OR
- Paper version: a protein profile booklet.
- Students translate the DNA sequence using the codon wheel provided.
- Web version: Enter the amino acid sequence into the search box on the Function Finders website www.ebi.ac.uk/training/schools/relate/ (click on the icon above). A list of different proteins containing similar sequences is generated. Click on the highlighted protein to open an information sheet.
- Paper version: Find the correct proteins by cross-referencing their amino acid sequence with those in the Protein Profiles booklet. Students can feed their answers back to the class.
- Teachers notes:
- A PowerPoint presentation is provided to discuss the results with the class. Detailed instructions and discussion points are provided in the Teacher's Notes in the Support Materials section.
Support Links:
Related items:
Curriculum links:
This activity supports the following modules on the UK curriculum.
Click on the arrows below for further detail of the module.
Web links:
Additional sources of information on the web for teachers and students to increase their knowledge base on DNA, gene s and genomes.
