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In-Gene-In-Gene-iousious

Delving into Cells, Delving into Cells, Chromosomes, Genes, Proteins Chromosomes, Genes, Proteins

and DNA!and DNA!

by Jacinta Duncan by Jacinta Duncan The Gene Technology Access CentreThe Gene Technology Access Centre

Modified by Stephen Gloury and Eryn O’MahonyModified by Stephen Gloury and Eryn O’Mahony

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Discovering Small Discovering Small DifferencesDifferences

Second toe longer or shorter than your big toe?

Earlobes Attached or unattached?

Cross your arms….are you left over right or right over left?

Pull your hair back. Widows peak or none?

Mid-digit hair on fingers?

Which inherited trait do you have? Click and Fill in your worksheet as you determine each one.

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I wonder how, I wonder I wonder how, I wonder whywhy

I’m 61% like a fly?I’m 61% like a fly?

Now here’s a shock Now here’s a shock that’s sort of grousethat’s sort of grouse

We’re 99% like a We’re 99% like a mouse!mouse!

It makes you stop, it It makes you stop, it makes you thinkmakes you think

How similar are we to a How similar are we to a chimp?chimp?

Source:Mouse http://animals.timduru.org/dirlist/mouse/mouse.jpgDrosophila: http://www.innate.se/drosophila.jpgChimpanzee: http://www.utalii.com/Hotels/images/Chimpanzee.jpg

WE ARE DIFFERENT IN MANY WAYS, WE ARE DIFFERENT IN MANY WAYS, BUT IN MANY WAYS WE ARE THE SAME!BUT IN MANY WAYS WE ARE THE SAME!

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You have You have trillions of cells trillions of cells

in your body!in your body!

Source:Blood cells: http://images.encarta.msn.com/xrefmedia/sharemed/targets/images/pho/35a5c/35A5C297.jpgNerve cell: http://www.technovelgy.com/graphics/content/nervecell.jpgFat cells: http://casweb.cas.ou.edu/pbell/Histology/Images/Slides/Connective/pl.skin.adipose.jpgMuscle cells: http://www.meddean.luc.edu/lumen/MedEd/Histo/HistoImages/hl3A-42.jpg Bone cell: http://www.meddean.luc.edu/lumen/MedEd/Histo/HistoImages/hl4A-40.jpg

Red blood cells to carry oxygen

around the body

And

White blood cells to fight infections

Fat Cells to store excess

energy

Nerve cells send electrical signals so your brain can

communicate with the rest of the cells in your

body

Muscle cells for movement

Here are some

examples of cells in your

body.

Can you guess what

they are and what they do?

Click on them to check your

answer.

Bone cells produce calcium

carbonate to support the

body

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You find DNA inside You find DNA inside nearly every cell in your nearly every cell in your

body.body.

Each cell contains the Each cell contains the same DNA.same DNA.

The DNA is found inside The DNA is found inside the nucleus of the cell.the nucleus of the cell.

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DNA is in the cell DNA is in the cell nucleusnucleus

All mature cells contain DNA except your red blood cells. All mature cells contain DNA except your red blood cells.

DNA is found in the nucleus. This is a large structure found in the cell. DNA is found in the nucleus. This is a large structure found in the cell.

Can you locate it in the cell below? Click to check your answer.Can you locate it in the cell below? Click to check your answer.

Nucleus

Source: Source: http://www.tokyo-med.ac.jp/genet/picts/cell-e.jpghttp://www.tokyo-med.ac.jp/genet/picts/cell-e.jpg

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DNA is packed into DNA is packed into chromosomeschromosomes

You have 46 You have 46 chromosomes in each chromosomes in each of your body cells.of your body cells.

You inherited these from You inherited these from your parents: 23 from your parents: 23 from mum and 23 from dadmum and 23 from dad

Click on the button to Click on the button to see what your see what your chromosomes look chromosomes look like.like.

The chromosomes you The chromosomes you inherit determine inherit determine what you look like.what you look like.

Source:

Chromosome: http://data.over-blog.com/lib/0/4/3540/pics/Articles/chromosome.jpg

Human chromosomes

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Fertilisation Fertilisation EventEvent

An egg has 23 chromosomes and a sperm has 23 chromosomes.

The cell that results from fertilisation contains 46 chromosomes or 23 pairs.

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Embryo DevelopmentEmbryo Development

Pictures from Nova Online

Embryo Development

All of your body cells come from this one fertilised cell. Every time cells divide they copy their DNA and pass it on to their daughter cells.

This means that all of your body cells have the same copy of DNA or the same chromosomes as the original cell.

Cells end up doing different jobs because of the genes that are turned on or off.

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GenesGenes Sections of the Sections of the chromosome shown chromosome shown here have been here have been coloured in.coloured in.

Each section is a Each section is a piece of DNA called piece of DNA called a a genegene..

Source: Chromosome: http://academy.d20.co.edu/kadets/lundberg/dnapic2.html

Look at some genes on your chromosomes.

Click on Tour and then “Genome spots”

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Chromosome Chromosome Number One is the Number One is the

largest largest chromosome. It chromosome. It has 2,968 geneshas 2,968 genes..

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A gene acts as a A gene acts as a recipe or code for recipe or code for making a protein.making a protein.

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WHAT ARE PROTEINS? WHAT ARE PROTEINS? WHY ARE THEY SO IMPORTANT?WHY ARE THEY SO IMPORTANT?

70% of your body is water. 15% is protein!70% of your body is water. 15% is protein!

Many parts of your body are built out of Many parts of your body are built out of proteins!proteins!

Many parts of your body are built by Many parts of your body are built by proteins!proteins!

Source: http://thehumanbodyfilm.com/home.html

You drink to get water and you eat food containing protein to get the building blocks for making proteins.

The building blocks are amino acids.

You’ve all used lego pieces or blocks to build things. In a similar way, your body builds proteins out of amino acids

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Proteins in You!Proteins in You!1. Amylase – a protein in your saliva that breaks down starch (found in biscuits, cereal, bread, etc.) into smaller sugars2. Two proteins

for muscle movement – actin and distrophin3. Another protein found in muscle is myoglobin. It stores the oxygen needed for cells to do their work4. Keratin –

a protein that makes your nails and hair tough

5. Your heart pumps blood. The blood contains red blood cells. These red blood cells contain the protein haemoglobin. Haemoglobin carries oxygen to cells all around the body.

6. All of your joints contain tendons to join bones and cartilage to stop bones rubbing together and to absorb shock. The protein here is collagen – a tough and flexible protein.

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So…we’re all so So…we’re all so similar because of similar because of our genes and the our genes and the proteins we make!proteins we make!

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In fact it is In fact it is believed the human believed the human genome is almost genome is almost

exactly the same in exactly the same in all people. 99.9%all people. 99.9%

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What makes us What makes us unique is the non unique is the non

coding DNA. This is coding DNA. This is quite different in each quite different in each

individual.individual.

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But what is a gene But what is a gene made out of?made out of?

The molecule of life….The molecule of life….

DNADNA

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What does DNA stand What does DNA stand for?for?

DeDe oxy oxy riboribo Nucleic Nucleic AcidAcid

Missing or less

Oxygen Sugar

(think Ribena!)

Nucleus

(part of your cells)

Acid

(think lemons and oranges!)

1. PRACTICE SAYING ‘DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID’ BY BREAKING IT DOWN INTO SMALLER PARTS.

THESE PARTS GIVE YOU CLUES ABOUT THE MOLECULE.

2. TRY TO GUESS WHAT EACH PART MIGHT MEAN AND THEN CLICK TO CHECK YOUR ANSWER (Do this in

order)

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Would you eat Would you eat DNA?DNA?

All living things are made up of All living things are made up of cells. cells.

Do you think that plant cells contain Do you think that plant cells contain DNA?DNA?

Let’s investigate…..Let’s investigate…..

DNA extraction protocol

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DNADNA

DNA is made up of two strands (shown here in blue and red). The strands are held together by nitrogen bases (shown here in

yellow)

http://academy.d20.co.edu/kadets/lundberg/dnapic2.html

http://www.tokyo-med.ac.jp/genet/picts/dna.jpg

There are four nitrogen bases:

Cytosine, Guanine, Adenine and Thymine

What pairs with C?

What pairs with A?

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The codeThe codeIn each gene (length of DNA) there is a In each gene (length of DNA) there is a

code for making protein. The code is code for making protein. The code is determined by the order of the nitrogen determined by the order of the nitrogen

bases A, T, G and C.bases A, T, G and C.

The code is copied and then read by your The code is copied and then read by your cell machinery so proteins can be made.cell machinery so proteins can be made.

An animation of this is on the DNAi DVD An animation of this is on the DNAi DVD distributed free to schools by GTACdistributed free to schools by GTAC

Order Form

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11 ccctgcactt gggagccggt agcactccta tcactgcttc tcaacccgtg agctaccagc tgtgtcatga gctgcagaca ccctgcactt gggagccggt agcactccta tcactgcttc tcaacccgtg agctaccagc tgtgtcatga gctgcagaca gttctcctcg tcctacttga gccgcagcgg cgggggtggc gggggcggcc tgggcagcgg gggcagcata gttctcctcg tcctacttga gccgcagcgg cgggggtggc gggggcggcc tgggcagcgg gggcagcata aggtcttcct acagccgctt cagctcctc gggggcggtg gaggaggggg ccgattcagc tcttctagtg aggtcttcct acagccgctt cagctcctc gggggcggtg gaggaggggg ccgattcagc tcttctagtg gctatggtgg gggaagctct cgtgtctgtg ggaggggagg cggtggcagt tttggctaca gctacggcgg gctatggtgg gggaagctct cgtgtctgtg ggaggggagg cggtggcagt tttggctaca gctacggcgg aggatctggg ggtggtttta gtgccagtag tttaggcggt ggctttgggg gtggttccag aggttttggt ggtgcttctg aggatctggg ggtggtttta gtgccagtag tttaggcggt ggctttgggg gtggttccag aggttttggt ggtgcttctg gaggaggcta tagtagttct gggggttttg gaggtggctt tggtggtggt tctggaggtg gctttggtgg gaggaggcta tagtagttct gggggttttg gaggtggctt tggtggtggt tctggaggtg gctttggtgg tggctatggg agtgggtttg gggggtttgg gggctttgga ggtggtgctg gaggaggtga tggtggtatt tggctatggg agtgggtttg gggggtttgg gggctttgga ggtggtgctg gaggaggtga tggtggtatt ctgactgcta atgagaagag caccatgcag gaactcaatt ctcggctggc ctcttacttg gataaggtgc ctgactgcta atgagaagag caccatgcag gaactcaatt ctcggctggc ctcttacttg gataaggtgc aggctctaga ggaggccaac aacgacctgg agaataagat ccaggattgg tacgacaaga agggacctgc aggctctaga ggaggccaac aacgacctgg agaataagat ccaggattgg tacgacaaga agggacctgc tgctatccag aagaactact ccccttatta taacactatt gatgatctca aggaccagat tgtggacctg acagtgggca tgctatccag aagaactact ccccttatta taacactatt gatgatctca aggaccagat tgtggacctg acagtgggca acaacaaaac tctcctggac attgacaaca ctcgcatgac actggatgac ttcaggataa agtttgagat acaacaaaac tctcctggac attgacaaca ctcgcatgac actggatgac ttcaggataa agtttgagat ggagcaaaac ctgcggcaag gagtggatgc tgacatcaat ggcctgcggc aggtgctgga caatctgacc ggagcaaaac ctgcggcaag gagtggatgc tgacatcaat ggcctgcggc aggtgctgga caatctgacc atggagaagt ctgacctgga gatgcagtat gagactctgc aggaggagct gatggccctc aagaagaatc atggagaagt ctgacctgga gatgcagtat gagactctgc aggaggagct gatggccctc aagaagaatc ataaggagga gatgagtcag ctgactgggc agaacagtgg agatgtcaat gtggagataa acgttgctcc ataaggagga gatgagtcag ctgactgggc agaacagtgg agatgtcaat gtggagataa acgttgctcc tggcaaagat ctcaccaaga ccctcaatga catgcgtcag gagtatgagc agctcattgc taagaacaga tggcaaagat ctcaccaaga ccctcaatga catgcgtcag gagtatgagc agctcattgc taagaacaga aaggacatcg agaatcaata tgagactcag ataacccaga tcgagcatga ggtatccagt agtggtcagg aaggacatcg agaatcaata tgagactcag ataacccaga tcgagcatga ggtatccagt agtggtcagg aggtgcagtc cagtgccaag gaggtgaccc agctccggca cggtgtccag gagttggaga ttgagctgca aggtgcagtc cagtgccaag gaggtgaccc agctccggca cggtgtccag gagttggaga ttgagctgca gtctcagctc agcaagaaag cagctctgga gaagagcttg gaagacacga agaaccgcta ctgtggccag gtctcagctc agcaagaaag cagctctgga gaagagcttg gaagacacga agaaccgcta ctgtggccag ctgcagatga tccaggagca gatcagtaac ttggaggccc agatcactga cgtccggcaa gagatcgagt ctgcagatga tccaggagca gatcagtaac ttggaggccc agatcactga cgtccggcaa gagatcgagt gccagaatca ggaatacagc cttctgctca gcattaagat gcggctggag aaggaaatcg agacctacca gccagaatca ggaatacagc cttctgctca gcattaagat gcggctggag aaggaaatcg agacctacca caacctcctt gagggaggcc aggaagactt tgaatcctcc ggagctggaa aaattggcct tggaggtcga caacctcctt gagggaggcc aggaagactt tgaatcctcc ggagctggaa aaattggcct tggaggtcga ggaggaagtg gaggcagtta tggaagagga tccaggggag gaagtggagg cagctatggt ggaggaggaa ggaggaagtg gaggcagtta tggaagagga tccaggggag gaagtggagg cagctatggt ggaggaggaa gtggaggtgg ctatggtgga ggaagtgggt ccaggggagg aagtggaggc agctacggtg gaggaagtgg gtggaggtgg ctatggtgga ggaagtgggt ccaggggagg aagtggaggc agctacggtg gaggaagtgg ttctggagga ggtagtggag gtggctatgg tggaggaagt ggaggtggcc atagcggagg aagtggaggt ttctggagga ggtagtggag gtggctatgg tggaggaagt ggaggtggcc atagcggagg aagtggaggt ggtcatagtg gaggaagtgg gggcaactat ggaggaggaa gtggctctgg aggaggaagt gggggtggct ggtcatagtg gaggaagtgg gggcaactat ggaggaggaa gtggctctgg aggaggaagt gggggtggct atggtggagg aagtgggtcc aggggaggaa gtggaggcag ccatggtgga ggaagtggtt ttggaggtga atggtggagg aagtgggtcc aggggaggaa gtggaggcag ccatggtgga ggaagtggtt ttggaggtga aagtggaggc agctacggag gcggtgaaga agcgagtgga agtggtggcg gctacggagg aggaagcgga aagtggaggc agctacggag gcggtgaaga agcgagtgga agtggtggcg gctacggagg aggaagcgga aaatcatccc attcctagtc ttcttcctca aaatctggtg accaagatga gacaaaaggc ttcctttcgc gatactagag aaatcatccc attcctagtc ttcttcctca aaatctggtg accaagatga gacaaaaggc ttcctttcgc gatactagag cctctgtaaa cttctcctgc ccagccccag ctgagcatcc ccagatgggc agactcccga tgaagcctgc cctctgtaaa cttctcctgc ccagccccag ctgagcatcc ccagatgggc agactcccga tgaagcctgc ttattggatc ctgacatcag gaatagctgg caacaagccc ctgtgcccgt ttgggactga actgacttgg catatgtgcc ttattggatc ctgacatcag gaatagctgg caacaagccc ctgtgcccgt ttgggactga actgacttgg catatgtgcc tctggctttc cattggcttc caaccctgct tggctttgat gccttcaggg ttggggagac agacctcttt cctctctctg tctggctttc cattggcttc caaccctgct tggctttgat gccttcaggg ttggggagac agacctcttt cctctctctg gcctggggtg ctctcacacc ctgcacgatc ttgactataa taaagcttcc ctactgc gcctggggtg ctctcacacc ctgcacgatc ttgactataa taaagcttcc ctactgc 22872287

A gene for keratin, the protein your hair is made out A gene for keratin, the protein your hair is made out of, is located on chromosome 12. of, is located on chromosome 12.

How many nitrogen bases make up the coding part of this gene How many nitrogen bases make up the coding part of this gene (shown below)?(shown below)?

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Dystrophin is the largest Dystrophin is the largest known human gene. It known human gene. It

has 2.4 million bases and has 2.4 million bases and it takes the ce11 16 it takes the ce11 16

hours to copy. hours to copy.

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Protein Primary StructureProtein Primary Structure

The The primary structureprimary structure is the sequence of amino acids is the sequence of amino acids that are linked together to make a polypeptidethat are linked together to make a polypeptide

http://www.mywiseowl.com/articles/Image:Protein-primary-structure.png

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Protein Secondary StructureProtein Secondary StructureThe secondary structure of proteins shows how they fold up intoThe secondary structure of proteins shows how they fold up into

Alpha helicesAlpha helicesBeta sheetsBeta sheetsRandom coilsRandom coils

Source: http://www.rothamsted.bbsrc.ac.uk/notebook/courses/guide/prot.htm#I

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Proteins fold again…Proteins fold again…

Source: http://fig.cox.miami.edu/~cmallery/150/chemistry/hemoglobin.jpg

to gain the shape that is required for them to work to gain the shape that is required for them to work properly.properly.

This is important. If it goes wrong, the protein often This is important. If it goes wrong, the protein often can’t do its job!can’t do its job!

Proteins can consist of one or more polypeptides. Haemoglobin has 4!

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So, why are we so similar So, why are we so similar to a mouse?to a mouse?

You will use the protein amylase to You will use the protein amylase to investigate this. investigate this.

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Looking at AmylaseLooking at AmylaseAmylase is a protein that cuts small maltose sugar Amylase is a protein that cuts small maltose sugar molecules off starch molecules. This is important as molecules off starch molecules. This is important as

we need the sugar for energywe need the sugar for energyClick on the starch molecule to see amylase in actionClick on the starch molecule to see amylase in action

STARCH

MALTOSE

STARCH

AMYLASE

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Comparing the amylase Comparing the amylase codecode

Many living things on earth have the Many living things on earth have the protein amylase. They need it to cut protein amylase. They need it to cut sugars off starch so they can use the sugar sugars off starch so they can use the sugar for energy.for energy.

We can start to get a picture of how closely related living things are by comparing the code in their genes (the genetic code = their genome).

You will act as code investigators. Click on the button below to compare the codes for the protein amylase in different living organisms

Code investigators

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The relationship treeThe relationship treeThe relationship tree below has been made by comparing the code found The relationship tree below has been made by comparing the code found

in the amylase gene for the rat, fruit fly, mouse, chicken and human.in the amylase gene for the rat, fruit fly, mouse, chicken and human.

The more similar the organism, the less distance between them. When The more similar the organism, the less distance between them. When you see a fork in a line (split) this means that the animals have you see a fork in a line (split) this means that the animals have become different to each other.become different to each other.

Use the tree to answer the following questions:

Which two are more closely related?

•The Fruit fly and the chicken OR

•The rat and the mouse?

Do you think you are more closely related to a chicken or a mouse? Explain

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Taking it a step further…Taking it a step further…

1. Three new organisms have been added to the tree and one removed. What are they?

2. Bacteria and fungi don’t eat food like the other organisms. They are decomposers. They digest starch using amylase protein and then absorb the sugar products. How might they get the amylase to the starch?

3. Draw in a line to show where you think a chimpanzee would be on this tree.

4. Click to see another version of this tree

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Explore your proteinsExplore your proteinsScientists have worked out the shape of many Scientists have worked out the shape of many

proteins by conducting experiments. When they proteins by conducting experiments. When they have their results, they publish them and this have their results, they publish them and this information is then entered into information is then entered into supercomputing systems for people to access.supercomputing systems for people to access.

You can view the three dimensional structure of You can view the three dimensional structure of some of your proteins using the computer some of your proteins using the computer program Cn3D.program Cn3D.

Download Cn3D CollagenHaemoglobin Amylase

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Research another protein. Discuss what you Research another protein. Discuss what you can learn about its structure, function and the can learn about its structure, function and the

organism it comes from using the skills you organism it comes from using the skills you learned today and website resources.learned today and website resources.

You can explore a number of proteins using Cn3D. Go to You can explore a number of proteins using Cn3D. Go to the following URL: the following URL:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=Structhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=Structureure

In the In the “for”“for” box, try some of the proteins listed below box, try some of the proteins listed below (one at a time) and then hit (one at a time) and then hit “go”.“go”. You will get a list of You will get a list of options. Click on theoptions. Click on the writing in blue writing in blue to select one. A to select one. A new page will appear. Click onnew page will appear. Click on View 3D structure View 3D structure button. Explore using your Cn3D skills.button. Explore using your Cn3D skills.

Misc Enzymes Genetics Toxins

Collagen Amylase Endonuclease Ricin

Tubulin Rubisco Taq DNA Polymerase Arsenic

Porphyrin Pepsin Ribosome Tetanus toxin

Prion Alcohol dehydrogenase Helicase Funnel web toxin