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Biology Protein Synthesis "Party"

Students in York High School’s IB Biology class review protein synthesis with a little protein "party". One student role played the mRNA and had to transcribe a strand of DNA in the nucleus of a cell. Before leaving the nucleus they had to be processed and a 5' cap and poly A tail were added to the new mRNA strand. The mRNA student then went to the ribosome where the mRNA strand was translated. A race ensued between teams as they ran to get the correct amino acid balloon. The activity is courtesy of Samantha Bickel, a VIMS GK-12 Fellow. Students in the photo are translating their mRNA molecule.