Project Description
This project was all about studying how protein synthesis works, and how one small mistake can have a big effect on how the body functions. Once we had learned how protein synthesis works we picked a disease to research. Our disease had to be caused by a mistake in the protein synthesis process. We then learned about the disease itself, as well as the mistake that caused it. The disease that we picked was Cystic Fibrosis. Once we had finished our research we created posters to display our information.
During our research about Cystic Fibrosis we learned that it is caused by a mutation in the DNA on the CFTR gene. This mutation causes the CFTR protein to be defective. This causes many different symptoms and affects many different parts of the body, like the lungs and pancreas. Cystic Fibrosis currently has no cure, but gene therapy research could lead to one in the future.
During our research about Cystic Fibrosis we learned that it is caused by a mutation in the DNA on the CFTR gene. This mutation causes the CFTR protein to be defective. This causes many different symptoms and affects many different parts of the body, like the lungs and pancreas. Cystic Fibrosis currently has no cure, but gene therapy research could lead to one in the future.
Our Posters
Biology Concepts
Protein Synthesis- Protein synthesis is the process that cells go through to create their own proteins. There are 3 steps of protein synthesis, transcription, translation, and protein folding. In this project our disease was caused by a mistake in the process of protein synthesis.
<Transcription- Transcription is the process where DNA is turned into RNA. The double helix of a DNA strand splits and RNA polymerase creates the corresponding mRNA. This process happens in the nucleus, then the mRNA is sent out into the cytoplasm.
<Translation- Translation is the second step of protein synthesis. The mRNA attaches to a ribosome, then tRNAs with anticodons that correspond to the codons on the mRNA attach. The amino acids on the tRNA attach to each other using polypeptides to form a polypeptide chain, while the actual tRNAs leave.
<Protein Folding- The third step of protein synthesis is protein folding. This turns a polypeptide chain into a functional protein. There are actually 4 different stages or structures during the folding process. The first form is called the primary structure, and is just the polypeptide chain that it starts as. The secondary structure is where the protein folds into either an alpha helix or a beta sheet. During the tertiary stage the protein creates domains and folds into a complex 3D shape, determined by hydrophobic and hydrophilic reactions. The final stage is the quaternary stage. Multiple tertiary structures fold into each other to create a functional protein.
Codon- A codon is 3 nucleotides that make up genetic information. In protein synthesis codons determine what amino acids make up the chain. In this project our disease had one codon that was deleted, which caused a mistake a protein to not be created. This is what causes the disease.
Anticodon- 3 nucleotides that hold genetic information on tRNA. They correspond to a codon on mRNA, so the tRNA know where to leave its amino acid.
Polymerase- Polymerase is an enzyme that helps create DNA and RNA.
Polypeptide Chain- A polypeptide chain is the basic structure of a protein before it's been folded. They are made up of a chain of amino acids held together by polypeptides.
Alpha Helix- One type of secondary structure during the protein folding process. An alpha helix is a protein folded into a coil.
Beta Sheet- Another type of secondary structure during the protein folding process. A beta sheet is a protein folded into a pleated sheet.
DNA- DNA holds genetic code and the instructions for life. It also starts the process of protein synthesis. Our disease for this project was caused by a mistake in the DNA.
RNA- Ribonucleic Acid. RNA is based off of DNA, and it carries the the codes for amino acids
mRNA- messenger RNA. mRNA carries the genetic information to the ribosome for protein synthesis
tRNA- transfer RNA. tRNA carries the amino acids that are used to make a protein
rRNA- ribosomal RNA. rRNA makes ribosomes.
Protein- Protein is made of amino acids that form a polypeptide chain. Proteins make enzymes and build and repair muscles and tissues. All living things need protein. This project was all about researching a disease that was caused by a protein functioning incorrectly. Our disease was caused by one protein being deleted.
Amino Acid- Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. Different amino acid combinations make different proteins that do different things. What protein they form is determined by the codons on the RNA. In our disease that we researched one amino acid was missing.
Cystic Fibrosis- A genetic disease that affects the proteins responsible for making mucus, sweat, and digestive fluids. We researched this disease for our project.
CFTR Gene- The CFTR (Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator) gene is the gene that is responsible for making the CFTR protein. In Cystic Fibrosis this the gene that has a mutation. Most often, the mutation in that CFTR gene is the deletion of 3 base pairs which causes an amino acid to be missing.
CFTR Protein- This protein is created by the CFTR gene and is responsible for controlling the movement of salt and water in and out of cells. In Cystic Fibrosis this protein doesn't work correctly, which causes mucus, sweat, and digestive fluids to be thick and sticky.
<Transcription- Transcription is the process where DNA is turned into RNA. The double helix of a DNA strand splits and RNA polymerase creates the corresponding mRNA. This process happens in the nucleus, then the mRNA is sent out into the cytoplasm.
<Translation- Translation is the second step of protein synthesis. The mRNA attaches to a ribosome, then tRNAs with anticodons that correspond to the codons on the mRNA attach. The amino acids on the tRNA attach to each other using polypeptides to form a polypeptide chain, while the actual tRNAs leave.
<Protein Folding- The third step of protein synthesis is protein folding. This turns a polypeptide chain into a functional protein. There are actually 4 different stages or structures during the folding process. The first form is called the primary structure, and is just the polypeptide chain that it starts as. The secondary structure is where the protein folds into either an alpha helix or a beta sheet. During the tertiary stage the protein creates domains and folds into a complex 3D shape, determined by hydrophobic and hydrophilic reactions. The final stage is the quaternary stage. Multiple tertiary structures fold into each other to create a functional protein.
Codon- A codon is 3 nucleotides that make up genetic information. In protein synthesis codons determine what amino acids make up the chain. In this project our disease had one codon that was deleted, which caused a mistake a protein to not be created. This is what causes the disease.
Anticodon- 3 nucleotides that hold genetic information on tRNA. They correspond to a codon on mRNA, so the tRNA know where to leave its amino acid.
Polymerase- Polymerase is an enzyme that helps create DNA and RNA.
Polypeptide Chain- A polypeptide chain is the basic structure of a protein before it's been folded. They are made up of a chain of amino acids held together by polypeptides.
Alpha Helix- One type of secondary structure during the protein folding process. An alpha helix is a protein folded into a coil.
Beta Sheet- Another type of secondary structure during the protein folding process. A beta sheet is a protein folded into a pleated sheet.
DNA- DNA holds genetic code and the instructions for life. It also starts the process of protein synthesis. Our disease for this project was caused by a mistake in the DNA.
RNA- Ribonucleic Acid. RNA is based off of DNA, and it carries the the codes for amino acids
mRNA- messenger RNA. mRNA carries the genetic information to the ribosome for protein synthesis
tRNA- transfer RNA. tRNA carries the amino acids that are used to make a protein
rRNA- ribosomal RNA. rRNA makes ribosomes.
Protein- Protein is made of amino acids that form a polypeptide chain. Proteins make enzymes and build and repair muscles and tissues. All living things need protein. This project was all about researching a disease that was caused by a protein functioning incorrectly. Our disease was caused by one protein being deleted.
Amino Acid- Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. Different amino acid combinations make different proteins that do different things. What protein they form is determined by the codons on the RNA. In our disease that we researched one amino acid was missing.
Cystic Fibrosis- A genetic disease that affects the proteins responsible for making mucus, sweat, and digestive fluids. We researched this disease for our project.
CFTR Gene- The CFTR (Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator) gene is the gene that is responsible for making the CFTR protein. In Cystic Fibrosis this the gene that has a mutation. Most often, the mutation in that CFTR gene is the deletion of 3 base pairs which causes an amino acid to be missing.
CFTR Protein- This protein is created by the CFTR gene and is responsible for controlling the movement of salt and water in and out of cells. In Cystic Fibrosis this protein doesn't work correctly, which causes mucus, sweat, and digestive fluids to be thick and sticky.
Reflection
This project went very well for my group. We divided the work evenly so we could all be working at the same time and get the project finished quickly. We finished our posters early so we had time to make them colorful, neat, and organized. When we were making the posters everyone contributed. We were all always working on something the make the project better. Everyone in my group had mastered all of the topics and concepts so it was eady to divide the work. Two things that we could've done better are adding more pictures and diagrams to show both the gene and the protein. We also could've added diagrams to show what happened in our disease. We also could've used our extra time to make a third poster that went into even more detail about our research. We had lots of facts that we could've included but couldn't fit onto the poster. Since we finished with time left we could've found a way to add it in. Overall this project went very well. My group and I all worked well together and everyone contributed equally.