Activity # 2 Cooking mRNA 101

Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:
a. Explain the process of mRNA production
a. Define Affinity in their own understanding
b. Describe the production of mRNA using the Phet set-up
c. Describe the main function of Negative Transcription Factor

Materials:

Computer (with Installed PhET)

1 Bond paper
1 whole sheet of paper
Pen

Procedure:

1. Open PhET Simulations in the desktop.

2. Click the play with sims...>.

3. On the left side, click Biology.

4. Then find Gene Expressions The basics. And click Run Now!.

5. Click Messenger RNA Production tab.

6. Drag all sliders of positive transcription factor and RNA polymerase into none and low.
(Observe the process)

*How many mRNA are produced? _______

7. Drag all sliders of positive transcription factor and RNA polymerase in the middle.
(Observe the process)

*How many mRNA are produced? _______

8. Drag all sliders of positive transcription factor and RNA polymerase into lots and high.
(Observe the process)

*How many mRNA are produced? ______

9. Tick the box of negative transcription factor.

10. In negative transcription factor, set the slider of concentrations and affinity into lots
and high.

*How many mRNA are produced? _______

11. Set the slider of affinity in the middle.

*Can you produce mRNA? ______

12. Set the slider of affinity in low.

*Can you produce mRNA? ______

Questions:

1. How do you define Affinity?

2. How does affinity affect the production of mRNA?

3. How do you set-up the sliders to:

a. make a lot of a particular protein - ______________________

b. make a little - ______________________

c. make none at all - ______________________