Evidence of Work
The purpose of this project was to explain how a protein can cause a disease through describing protein synthesis, a comparison of normal proteins to the disease proteins, and an explanation of a chosen genetic disease. My group decided to research the disease Achondroplasia, which is a form of dwarfism. To present our information, we made a video podcast.
Our final product was a seven-and-a-half minute video. My role was as the podcast host, Pranav was an expert on dwarfism, and Chapin was a patient with Achondroplasia. Throughout the video, I prompt Pranav with questions required for the project, and he answers them based on the research we did for the project. Chapin just sits there for theatrical effect. We got all of the necessary information in, and a little extra humor.
The purpose of this project was to explain how a protein can cause a disease through describing protein synthesis, a comparison of normal proteins to the disease proteins, and an explanation of a chosen genetic disease. My group decided to research the disease Achondroplasia, which is a form of dwarfism. To present our information, we made a video podcast.
Our final product was a seven-and-a-half minute video. My role was as the podcast host, Pranav was an expert on dwarfism, and Chapin was a patient with Achondroplasia. Throughout the video, I prompt Pranav with questions required for the project, and he answers them based on the research we did for the project. Chapin just sits there for theatrical effect. We got all of the necessary information in, and a little extra humor.
Content
Protein Synthesis:
Transcription - The first step of protein synthesis. During this step, RNA polymerase copies the DNA as RNA. This happens inside the nucleus, but RNA can leave the nucleus. This process creates a strand of RNA and mRNA (Messenger RNA), as this is a protein. The RNA and the mRNA both leave the nucleus through one of the many openings called nucleus pores. This part of the process is when mistakes that result in genetic disorders usually occur. The copying happens very quickly and in three parts at a time, so sometimes even our bodies cannot keep up.
Translation - During translation, the mRNA instructs free floating tRNA (Transfer RNA), to retrieve the correct amino acids in order to make a polypeptide chain. Before this can happen, though, the mRNA must attach to a ribosome. One by one, the tRNA molecules bring the amino acids to form the chain. This polypeptide chain will eventually fold to form a protein. The genetic instructions are put to work in this step, so if there is a mistake in the sequence, then we will see the result in the proteins that are constructed.
Codon: Three nucleotides in a genetic code form a codon, which is just one unit in a DNA or RNA molecule. The codons should correspond with the anticodons, but if they do not, there is a mistake which could cause a genetic disease.
Anticodon: tRNA also has a genetic sequence, and the way that the mRNA tells the tRNA which amino acids to choose is through the anticodons. Anticodons are also series' of three nucleotides, but these are part of the tRNA molecule, and the anticodons match up with the codons according to which amino acid the mRNA wants the tRNA to retrieve. If the anticodons don't match up with the codons, there is a mistake that could result in a genetic disease in the proteins.
Polymerase: RNA Polymerase that copies DNA into RNA as a part of the transcription process. The polymerase is another area where an error could occur in copying the DNA into RNA.
Polypeptide Chain: Polypeptide chains are made up of many amino acids strung together. They fold to make proteins. Polypeptide chains are made in ribosomes by tRNA and mRNA. The polypeptide chains are the results of transcription and translation, so they can contain genetic errors, but they are not the reason for them.
Proteins: Proteins are one or more chains of amino acids that are folded into a certain shape. They are essential for all living organisms. Proteins help build and repair muscles and tissue, as well as transporting and storing energy for the body. They also include structural enzymes. Proteins with genetic errors can cause a disease that can affect a person's quality of life.
Alpha Helix: Part of the structure of proteins. This is the coiled twirly part of the protein and it is made of a polypeptide chain with hydrogen bonds stabilizing it.
Beta Sheet: Part of the structure of a protein. Beta sheets are formed when sections of the polypeptide chain fold parallel to themselves, like folding a paper in half, with hydrogen bonds in between the layers.
Amino Acids: Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. These are the things that are put together polypeptide chains. There are twenty total amino acids, but nine of them are considered essential because our bodies cannot make them.
Reflection
During our Protein to a Disease project, I felt that I did very well as an all around teammate. I believe that I collaborated and solved problems exceptionally. I talked with my teammates and made sure that we all were on the same page. When we were working on our research, I made sure to keep our group informed and included. During the filming of our podcast, we started out by trying to have it set in the hallway but that was not working. I suggested that we switched to the solar studio, which ended up working very well. This was good problem solving.
Of course, nobody is perfect. Although I consider myself a good leader, I believe that I could have done better during this project as a leader. My teammate Pranav seemed like he had too much of a burden on his shoulders and I wish that I had lightened his load a little. For example, when Pranav was doing edits, I could have helped and done half of them or something. I guess I just got a little unfocused, but I will refocus going forward and not let my teammates down. My work ethic needs some work as well. I would like to be able to sit down and finish something, but I get distracted too easily. In the solar studio, when we were working on our first take, I could not stay focused on our filming. I kept getting distracted and messing up my lines. This was a waste of time that our group got through, but I need to stop doing things like that in the future.