Module 5 Instructor Resources

Lesson Plan

Title

  • Translation: The need for an Open Reading Frame

Objectives

  • Determine the codons for specific amino acids and identify reading frames by looking at the Base Position track in the genome browser
  • Assemble exons to maintain the open reading frame (ORF) for a given gene
  • Define the phases of the splice donor and acceptor sites and describe how they impact the maintenance of the ORF
  • Identify start and stop codons of an assembled ORF

Pre-requisites

  • Module 1
  • Module 2
  • Module 3
  • Module 4
  • Overview of the ribosome, tRNAs, and associated proteins involved in translation (Initiation Factors, Elongation Factors and Release Factors)
  • Overview of the DNA codon table

Order

  • Warm Up/Review of Pre-requisites
  • Investigation 1
  • Investigation 2
  • Exit

Homework

  • None

Class Instruction

  • Review the process of translation: Overview of the ribosome, tRNAs, and associated proteins involved in translation (Initiation Factors, Elongation Factors and Release Factors)
  • Review the DNA codon table
  • Work through the activities using the Genome Browser, with pauses to discuss the answers to the questions.
  • Conclude with emphasis on main points:
    • mRNAs are translated into amino acids using triplet codons
    • Identification of ORFs
    • The ORF must be maintained across splice sites to generate a working mRNA
    • The assembled ORF begins with a start codon and ends with a stop codon.

Associated Videos