Gene Transcription Introduction
Sections
1. Cellular Signals
2. Cell Signal Game
3. Cell Signal Quiz
4. Cell Signal Proteins
5. Cell Signal Network
Sections
1. Cellular Signals
2. Cell Signal Game
3. Cell Signal Quiz
4. Cell Signal Proteins
5. Cell Signal Network
1. Cellular Signals
A cell may need to respond to various kinds of signals:
- temperature,
- light,
- food/nutrients,
- hazardous chemicals,
- signals from other cells,
- and signals from the cell's own processes.
- Input signals activate proteins.
- The proteins interact with the promoter region of a gene.
- This activates a transcription process that produces mRNA from the gene.
- A ribosome translates the mMRNA into new proteins.
2. Cell Signal Game
Instructions Move the cell left and right to obtain food and avoid fire. Press  to move left. Press  to move right.
Click the Start button to begin. Goals Obtain a score of 100 or above.
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3. Cell Signal Quiz
Goals Answer all questions
Submit your answers
| Now we will let the cell run itself.
Determine the function of each protein in the cell diagram.
Some proteins communicate input signals (heat, food)
and other proteins trigger actions (movement). What does the A protein signal?
What does the B protein signal?
What does the C protein signal?
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4. Cell Signal Proteins
Instructions Observe the protein activation: zero indicates that the protein is deactivated, one indicates that the protein is activated. Goals Observe proteins activation until the cell reaches 50 points.
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Input Proteins (0 = deactivated, 1 = activated):
Action Proteins (0 = deactivated, 1 = activated):
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5. Cell Signal Network
Instructions Connect the input proteins (left) with the appropriate action proteins (right) so the cell will know how to react to stimuli. Create connections by drawing a line from one blue circle to another. Once you have created the connections, press Start to begin the simulation. Goals Obtain a score of 100 or above.
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Food Left
0 Food Right
0 Heat Left
0 Heat Right
0 Move Left
0 Move Right
0 Transcription defines the relationships between input proteins and action proteins.
Input proteins are on the left. Action proteins are on the right. Links between them represent transcription. In the real world, a gene defines each link. |
6. Lesson Done
Instructions You have completed the lesson. You may scroll up to review the lesson. |
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