Lesson 3
Nucleus
Biochemistry End of Unit Test is Tuesday, December 9th.
Nucleus
Students will be able to discover how the nucleus provides the instructions the ribosome needs to make proteins.
Review ribosomes key concept and vocabulary through regents questions.
Determine the direction of diffusion based on the concentration.
Apply my knowledge of the nucleus
Demonstrate my knowledge of the nucleus and ribosome by answering regent questions.
Tutoring after-school Wednesdays with Mr. Pinho in A-301
Activity 1: Warm-Up
Activity 2:
Activity 3:
Activity 4:
Activity 5:
Each cell is covered by a membrane that performs a number of important functions for the cell. These include: separation from its outside environment, controlling which molecules enter and leave the cell, and recognition of chemical signals. The processes of diffusion and active transport are important in the movement of materials in and out of cells. (1.2g)
Activity 1
Warm-Up
sc1 (10 min)
A specific protein called Amylase is found in human saliva. Its job is to grab onto large starch molecules (from foods like potatoes) and break them down into simple sugars for energy.
Doctors found a patient, who they named patient x, whose saliva could not digest starch. They analyzed the Amylase protein in this patient and compared it to a healthy person.
Questions:
1. The data table shows the order of amino acids for the Amylase protein. Which organelle in the cell is responsible for linking these amino acids together to form the protein chain?
(1) Mitochondria
(2) Nucleus
(3) Ribosome
(4) Cell Membrane
________________________________________________________________________________
2. Look at the Data Table and the Enzyme diagram above:
Based on the biology concepts you have learned, explain why changing a single amino acid (from Pro to His) caused the Amylase to stop working.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
3. Imagine the "Healthy Person" caught a very high fever (body temperature rises above 41 degrees farenheit).
Predict what would happen to the shape of their Amylase protein and their ability to digest starch. Explain your prediction
Activity 2
Turn and Talk
sc 2 - (5 min)
How does the ribosome know which order to put the amino acids in?
Activity 3
Discovery Learning
sc3- (10 min)
Essential Question:
How does the ribosome know which order to put the amino acids in?
The nucleus is an organelle found in most plant and animal cells. It stores the cell’s genetic information in the form of DNA. DNA contains the instructions for how the cell functions, grows, and repairs itself. These instructions are important because they guide the cell in making the proteins it needs to survive.
When a cell needs a specific protein, the nucleus creates a temporary message called messenger RNA (mRNA) using the information stored in DNA. This message carries the instructions needed to build that protein. The original DNA stays protected inside the nucleus, while the mRNA leaves through small openings in the nuclear membrane and moves into the cytoplasm.
The mRNA travels to a ribosome, which is the structure responsible for building proteins. The ribosome reads the message step by step. Each part of the message tells the ribosome which amino acid should be added next to the growing protein chain. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and the order they are joined together is very important.
As the ribosome adds amino acids one at a time, the protein chain begins to fold into a specific shape. The shape of a protein is extremely important because it determines how the protein works. Some proteins act as enzymes that speed up chemical reactions, while others act as hormones, antibodies, or cell receptors. If the amino acids are not in the correct order, the protein may not fold correctly and may not work properly.
The nucleus and ribosome work together to make sure proteins are built correctly. The nucleus stores DNA and sends instructions using mRNA, and the ribosome follows those instructions to assemble amino acids in the correct order. This teamwork allows cells to produce the many proteins needed to carry out life processes.
Activity 4
Stop n' Jot
sc4 - (10 min)
HW:
Tonight your homework will be to go home and memorize these steps. Your warm-up tomorrow will be to make a timeline.