NAME: _________________________ G10 - ____________ DATE: _________ SCORE: _____

QUARTER 3 MODULE 2
Activity 2
DNA Makes DNA

I. INTRODUCTION
Replication
In 1953, James Watson and Francis Crick worked out that DNA is double helix like a twisted
staircase. The two sugar-phosphate backbones make up the sides and the base pairs make up the
rungs or steps of the twisted staircase. Deoxyribonucleic acid is copied during interphase prior to
mitosis and meiosis. It is important that new copies are exactly like the original molecule. The
structure of the DNA provides a mechanism for making accurate copies of the molecule. The process
of making copies of DNA is called replication. When DNA replicates, two identical copies of DNA
molecules are produced, which are exactly the same as the original.

Do you understand the process by which DNA copies itself? The following are the events while DNA
copies itself:
• Step 1. An enzyme called helicase breaks the bond between nitrogenous bases. The two strands of
DNA split.
• Step 2. The bases attached to each strand then pair up with the free nucleotides found in the
cytoplasm.
• Step 3. The complementary nucleotides are added to each strand by DNA polymerase to form new
strands. Two new DNA molecules, each with a parent strand and each with a new strand are formed.
The DNA replication is known as semi-conservative replication, because one of the old strands is
conserved in each new molecule. Figure 4 illustrates the semi-conservative replication of DNA.
KEY CONCEPTS:
• DNA is made up of sugars, phosphate groups, and nitrogenous bases and its shape is a double
helix. The complementary structure the two strands of DNA allow each strand to serve as a template
during replication.
• The specificity of base pairing in DNA, adenine with thymine, and cytosine with guanine, allows
DNA to replicate itself with accuracy.

II. OBJECTIVE
1. Make a model of a DNA template to determine the sequence of bases in the new DNA strand.

III. MATERIALS
• crayons • scissors • paste/tape • 1/4 size illustration board or long size folder

IV. PROCEDURE
1. Use the patterns of the components of the DNA provided by your teacher. Color code phosphate =
blue, deoxyribose sugar = green and nitrogenous bases as follows: adenine = yellow, thymine = pink,
guanine = violet and cytosine = red.
2. Cut out the shapes of each nucleotide.
3. Build a model of a strand of a DNA molecule. The strand should contain 6 base “rungs” following
the given order of the nucleotides below.
Guanine Adenine Cytosine Thymine Cytosine Guanine
4. Tape the cut out pattern to form the nucleotides.
5. Let this arrangement represent the left half of your DNA molecule.
6. Make a complementary strand for the first strand that you made in step 3.
7. Tape the cut-out pattern forming nucleotides for the second strand of the DNA molecule.
8. Match the bases of the first strand and the second strand. Do not tape across bases.
9. Once you have made your DNA model, separate the two strands of the DNA model down the
middle so that there are now two single strands of DNA.
10. Create new double-stranded DNA by matching complementary nucleotides to the bases on each
single strand.
11. Tape and then cut out the pattern forming the nucleotides for each of the single nucleotides. 12.
When you are finished, mount the original DNA model and the DNA model with its complementary
strand in the illustration board or folder.

V. GUIDE QUESTIONS:
Q1. Compare the two new strands of DNA. Are they the same or different? Why?
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Q2. How do the nucleotides in DNA pair?
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Q3. How do you compare a DNA molecule to a zipper?
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Q4. How is information from the DNA passed on from one cell to another? Q8. How does the
structure of a DNA molecule help account for the great variety of life that exists on earth?
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NAME: _________________________ G10 - ____________ DATE: _________ SCORE: _____

QUARTER 3 MODULE 2
Activity 3
What’s the Message!

I. INTRODUCTION
What do you think is the role of RNA in making proteins in the cell? Can you imagine a car
being assembled in a car factory? By way of analogy, different cars are being built in many simple
steps. Engineers tell workers how to make cars, and the workers follow directions to build the cars.
Suppliers bring parts to the factory so they can be installed in the car. Protein production is similar to
car production. It is the role of the DNA to provide workers with the instructions for making the
proteins, and the workers build the proteins. Other workers known as amino acids, bring parts to the
factory. RNA molecules or the workers for protein synthesis get the instructions from the DNA on
how the protein should be assembled.
Moreover, do you know that there are three types of RNA that help build proteins? You can
consider these RNA molecules to be the workers in the production of protein.
• One type of RNA, messenger RNA (mRNA) brings information from the DNA in the nucleus
to the protein manufacturing area, the cytoplasm. In the cytoplasm, the mRNA becomes the
template of information to make proteins.
• Ribosomes, made of ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and ribosomal proteins hold tightly into the
mRNA using its information to assemble the amino acids in correct order.
• Transfer RNA (tRNA) supplies amino acids to the ribosome to be assembled as protein.

Did you find this car-making analogy helpful? But, how does the information in DNA, which is
found in the nucleus, move to the ribosome in the cytoplasm?

TRANSCRIPTION
In the next activity, you will demonstrate the process of transcription through the use of
paper DNA and mRNA models.

KEY CONCEPTS:
• The sequence of nucleotides in DNA directs the order of nucleotides in messenger RNA in a process
called transcription.
• There are three major types of RNA that help build proteins: mRNA, rRNA, and tRNA.
• The mRNA carries the information in DNA to the ribosomes found in the cytoplasm.

II. OBEJECTIVES
1. Make a model to show how the order of bases in DNA determines the order of bases in mRNA.
2. Infer why the structure of DNA enables it to be easily copied.

III. MATERIALS
• crayons • 1/4 illustration board or long folder • scissors • paste/tape

IV. PROCEDURE
1. Use the patterns of the components of the DNA provided by your teacher. Color code phosphate =
blue, deoxyribose sugar = green, ribose sugar = brown and nitrogenous bases as follows: adenine =
yellow, thymine = pink, guanine = violet and cytosine = red and uracil = orange.
2. Cut out the shapes of each nucleotide.
3. Using the given order of the nucleotides below, construct a double stranded DNA molecule.
Guanine Adenine Cytosine Thymine Cytosine Guanine
4. Fasten your molecule together using a clear tape. Do not tape across base pairs.
5. Step 1, use the patterns of the components of the RNA provided by your teacher. Color code
phosphate = blue, ribose sugar = brown and nitrogenous bases as follows: adenine = yellow, uracil =
orange, guanine = violet and cytosine = red.
6. Cut out the shapes of each nucleotide.
7. With your DNA model in front of you, demonstrate the process of transcription by first pulling the
DNA model apart between the base pairs.
8. Using the right strand of the DNA model in step 3, begin matching complementary RNA
nucleotides with the exposed bases on the DNA model to make mRNA.
9. Tape the RNA nucleotides.
10. When you are finished, tape your new mRNA molecule together.

V. GUIDE QUESTIONS
Q1. Does the mRNA model more closely resemble the DNA strand from which it was transcribed?
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Q2. Explain how the structure of DNA enables the molecule to be easily transcribed. Why is this
important for genetic information?
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Q3. Why is RNA important to the cell?
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Q4. How does a mRNA molecule carry information from DNA?
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VI. APPLICATION
Do you know how the information in DNA, which is found in the nucleus, move to the ribosome in
the cytoplasm?

The following events can help you understand the process of transcription:
• Step 1. Ribonucleic Acid polymerase enzyme binds and opens the DNA molecule that will be
transcribed.
• Step 2. As the DNA molecule opens, the RNA polymerase slides along the DNA strand and links free
RNA nucleotides that pair with the nitrogenous bases of the complementary DNA strand. Hence, if
the sequence of bases on the DNA strand were CCG TTA CAT, the sequence of bases on the RNA
strand would be GGC AAU GUA.
• Step 3. When the process of base-pairing is completed, the RNA molecule breaks away as the DNA
strands rejoin. The RNA leaves the nucleus and goes to the cytoplasm. Figure 6 shows the
transcription process.
NAME: _________________________ G10 - ____________ DATE: _________ SCORE: _____

QUARTER 3 MODULE 2
Activity 4
Relay the Message

I. INTRODUCTION
TRANSLATION
The DNA directs the production of proteins and determines the formation of mRNA. The
order of bases of mRNA determines the protein synthesized. Proteins control the activities of the
cell, as well as so the life of the entire organism. But how does DNA make a unique protein that will
perform a special function? Would you like to find out how the message of the mRNA is translated to
proteins? Work on the next activity to demonstrate the process of translation.
In translation, each set of three nucleotides in an mRNA molecule codes for one amino acid
in a protein. This explains why each set of three nucleotides in the mRNA is called a codon. Each
codon specifies a particular amino acid. For example, the first codon which is, cytosine-guanine-
uracil (CGU), instructs the ribosome to put the amino acid arg (arginine) in the protein. The sequence
of codons in the mRNA determines the sequence of amino acids in the protein.

KEY CONCEPTS:
• The process of converting the information in messenger RNA into a sequence of amino acids that
make a protein is known as translation.
• The role of transfer RNA (tRNA) is to bring the amino acids in the cytoplasm to the ribosomes to
make proteins
But how are the right amino acids added in the right sequence to match the sequence of
codons in the mRNA? The following events in translation can help you understand the process:
• Step 1. As translation begins, mRNA binds to a ribosome. Then, tRNA molecules, each
carrying a specific amino acid, approach the ribosome. The tRNA anticodon pairs with the first mRNA
(start) codon argenine-uracil-guanine (AUG), to form the initiation complex. The two molecules
temporarily join together.
• Step 2. Usually, the first codon on mRNA is AUG, which codes for the amino acid
methionine. AUG signals the start of protein synthesis. Then, the ribosome slides along the mRNA to
the next codon.
• Step 3. A new tRNA molecule carrying an amino acid pairs with the second mRNA codon.
• Step 4. When the first and second amino acids are in place, an enzyme joins them by
forming a peptide bond between them.
• Step 5. As the process continues, a chain of amino acids is formed until the ribosome
reaches a stop codon (e.g., UAA, UAG, UGA) on the mRNA strand. The polypeptide chain is released.
Protein synthesis is complete. Figure 7 summarizes the translation process.
II. OBJECTIVES
1. Make a model of the translation process
2. Simulate the steps in translation

III. MATERIALS
• crayons • 1/4 size illustration board or long size folder • scissors • paste/tape

IV. PROCEDURE
1. Use the patterns of the components of the DNA and RNA provided by your teacher. Color code
phosphate = blue, deoxyribose sugar = green, ribose sugar = brown and nitrogenous bases as
follows: adenine = yellow, uracil = orange, guanine = violet, cytosine = red and amino acid = green.
2. Cut out the shapes of each nucleotide.
3. Using the given order of the nucleotides below, construct a double stranded DNA molecule.
Guanine Adenine Cytosine Thymine Cytosine Guanine
4. Fasten your molecule together using a clear tape. Do not tape across base pairs.
5. Step 1, use the patterns of the components of the RNA provided by your teacher. Color code
phosphate = blue, ribose sugar = brown and nitrogenous bases as follows: adenine = yellow, uracil =
orange, guanine = violet and cytosine = red.
6. Cut out the shapes of each nucleotide of RNA.
7. With your DNA model in front of you, pull apart the DNA model.
8. Using the right strand of the DNA model in step 3, begin matching complementary RNA
nucleotides with the exposed bases on the DNA model to make mRNA.
9. Tape the RNA nucleotides.
10. Fasten your molecule together using a clear tape. Imagine that mRNA leaves the cell nucleus and
moves out to the cell’s ribosomes. Meanwhile, transfer RNA (tRNA) is present in the cell cytoplasm.
tRNA has a three –base sequence (a triplet) that can match with the bases of mRNA.
11. Cut out the two models of tRNA only along solid lines.
12. Join the tRNA molecules to the mRNA model.
13. When you are finished, tape your model of the translation process on the illustration board or
folder.

V. GUIDE QUESTIONS
Q13. What are the four nucleotide bases present in tRNA? Do these bases differ from those found in
mRNA?
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Q14. What base in mRNA can only join with the adenine base of RNA? uracil base of tRNA?
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Q15. What is a codon? What does it represent?
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Q16. What is the role of tRNA in protein synthesis?
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Q17. How does a tRNA molecule carrying its amino acid recognize which codon to attach?
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Q18. You have learned that there is a stop codon that signals the end of an amino acid chain. Why is
it important that a stop codon be part of protein synthesis?
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Q19. A construction worker brings hollow blocks to build a wall. What part of translation resembles
the construction worker’s job? What do the hollow blocks represent?
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