Discuss the mechanisms for regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes and eukaryotes at transcription and translation level.
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Description |
New Research into Epigenetics and Rheumatoid Arthritis | In this lesson, students will analyze an informational text that describes recent research into the underlying factors affecting rheumatoid arthritis. The text describes how epigenetic analysis in knee and hip joints revealed unique patterns that suggest the disease may differ from joint to joint. The findings may allow for the development of more effective, personalized treatment for those who suffer with RA. This lesson is designed to support reading in the content area. The lesson plan includes a note-taking guide, a vocabulary handout, text-dependent questions, a writing prompt, answer keys, and a writing rubric. |
Protein Synthesis: Transcription & Translation | Students will explore the process of protein synthesis, specifically transcription and translation, using a sequenced graphic organizer and an interactive simulation (Lesson 1 & 2).
This resource contains 3 lessons:
- Lesson 1: Transcription & Translation
- Lesson 2: Lac Operon
- Lesson 3: Proteins & Cancer
As an extension (Lesson 3) the students will justify the applications of biotechnology that uses transcription and translation to synthesize proteins that target cancer cells or reason the possibilities of the amplification of antibodies using immortal cells.
They will explore how mutations, genetic or epigenetic (lifestyle-chemicals, radiation, viruses), resulting in cancer.
The student will connect changes that occur in the genetic code, during transcription and translation, to the deleterious impact on proto oncogenes that promote cell division and tumor suppressor genes that normally inhibit it. |
Tissue Specific Gene Expression | How is it that all cells in our body have the same genes, yet cells in
different tissues express different genes? A basic notion in biology
that most high school students fail to conceptualize is the fact that
all cells in the animal or human body contain the same DNA, yet
different cells in different tissues express, on the one hand, a set of
common genes, and on the other, express another set of genes that vary
depending on the type of tissue and the stage of development. In this
video lesson, the student will be reminded that genes in a cell/tissue
are expressed when certain conditions in the nucleus are met.
Interestingly, the system utilized by the cell to ensure tissue specific
gene expression is rather simple. Among other factors - all discussed
fully in the lesson - the cells make use of a tiny scaffold known as the
"Nuclear Matrix or Nucleo-Skeleton". This video lesson spans 20 minutes
and provides 5 exercises for students to work out in groups and in
consultation with their classroom teacher. The entire duration of the
video demonstration and exercises should take about 45-50 minutes, or
equivalent to one classroom session. There are no supplies needed for
students' participation in the provided exercises. They will only need
their notebooks and pens. However, the teacher may wish to emulate the
demonstrations used in the video lesson by the presenter and in this
case simple material can be used as those used in the video. These
include play dough, pencils, rubber bands (to construct the nuclear
matrix model), a tennis ball and 2-3 Meters worth of shoe laces. The
students should be aware of basic information about DNA folding in the
nucleus, DNA replication, gene transcription, translation and protein
synthesis. |
The King of Dinosaurs or a Chicken Dinner? | This lesson uses the fundamentals of protein synthesis as a context for investigating the closest living relative to Tyrannosaurus rex and evaluating whether or not paleontologist and dinosaur expert, Jack Horner, will be able to "create" live dinosaurs in the lab. The first objective is for students to be able to access and properly utilize the NIH's protein sequence database to perform a BLAST, using biochemical evidence to determine T rex's closest living relative. The second objective is for students to be able to explain and evaluate Jack Horner's plans for creating live dinosaurs in the lab. The main prerequisite for the lesson is a basic understanding of protein synthesis, or the flow of information in the cell from DNA to RNA during transcription and then from RNA to protein during translation. You will find downloadable handouts of the necessary documents for the lesson. To complete the lesson, you will need the handouts and ideally computers with Internet connections so that students can complete the BLAST on their own or in groups. The computers are not a requirement, however, because the video has an optional segment that goes through the BLAST step-by-step and shows students exactly what they would see if they were doing it themselves. There is an optional reading assignment from WIRED magazine at the close of the lesson, and the article can be accessed for free on-line at . The lesson should take somewhere around 90 minutes, a portion of which is group or classroom discussion based on prompts from the video or the handouts. |