- Email: [email protected]
Lexicon—Cumulative Index
224
Biochemical Game
Monitor
Polypeptide: From D N A and m R N A synthesis to a short polypeptide chain
ARTHUR C ROBINSON
A Biotopic game for AS and A levels, and Scottish Standard grades, by Dragonlink Associates Ltd, 68, Liverpool Road, Stoke on Trent ST4 1BG, UK This game, one of a series in the Biotopic games portfolio, comes in an A5 sized plastic wallet containing instructions, background notes, a die, and a pack of cards representing the different components of the protein synthesising machinery. The aim of the game is to build up the enzyme and nucleotide components in the correct order to allow synthesis of a tripeptide chain. This is done rather as in a beetle drive, by throwing the die until the number allocated to the necessary component is achieved. Each player is dealt a D N A sequence, the following numbers must then be thrown to collect the protein synthesising machinery and components in the correct order:
Number
Component
l 1 or 2 1, 2 or 3 next round 1, 2, 3 or 4 1, 2, 3 or 5 1, 2, 3 or 6 next round 1,2, 3 or 5 1, 2, 3 or 6
D N A uncoil enzyme D N A unzip enzyme RNA polymerase enzyme exchange enzymes for mRNA ribosome start tRNA ATP move ribosome to next codon aminoacyl tRNA ATP
The last three moves are repeated, until a tripeptide containing glycine, valine and cysteine is made. The winner is the first person to collect the correct tripeptide chain for their original piece of D N A , the instructions suggest this should be checked by the other players. I estimate that a game with four players would last about half an hour. The game does assume some background knowledge. It is necessary for example for players to know which bases in DNA pair with which R N A bases, as well as which R N A : R N A base pairs are allowed. Knowledge of the genetic code is not required as the t R N A cards specify which amino acid is associated with the anticodon. Two misprints on the playing cards are particularly annoying as they reinforce the same error. The ~'coden location" on the ribosome is matched by an "anticoden triplet" on the t R N A molecule. Otherwise the game is an accurate if simplistic representation of the protein synthesis process. The rules once deciphered are fairly simple, and the game's aims are certainly laudable. It seems to me that it would be best played with a teacher who could point out some of the oversimplifications, and prompt students into thinking around the game. Such questions might include, what other codons code for the three amino acids? How does the ribosome know when to stop? What are the real names of the D N A uncoil and unzip enzymes? My main reservation about the game is that its visual presentation is not sufficiently striking. We live in a time when cereal packets give away free holographic images, and are printed with multicoloured board games set in outer space; and computers have ever more realistic simulations of complex fantasy worlds. Given this cultural background it is hard to imagine a group of sixth formers sitting down to a board game consisting of pink and blue cards and a green die with excitement, however worthy its educational aims. Hopefully some sixth form teacher will tell me I'm wrong. J D Houghton
B I O C H E M I C A L E D U C A T I O N 22(4) 1994
Department of Biological Sciences Napier University Edinburgh EHIO 5DT, Scotland Roberts, L U W Team Reaches Out to Grade- and High-School
Students Science 264, 208 (1994) Having achieved his goal of transforming genome research through the development of automated D N A sequencing and D N A synthesizing machines, Leroy Hood is currently bringing physicists, chemists, engineers and computer scientists together in one department at the University of Washington (UW). Their remit is to work side-by-side with biologists to develop new technologies that will take biology into the twenty-first century. A major spin-off from this venture in Seatlle is that the local high school pupils are currently learning to synthesize D N A , carry out thermal cycling (modified for use in frying pans!) and gel electrophoresis, and even to sequence DNA. As part of UW's Department of Biotechnology outreach programme, Hood has requested that faculty members devote 5-10% of their time for the development of summer schools at which school teachers will be given 'hands-on' experience of molecular biological methods such as the polymerase chain reaction and restriction mapping. Free kits and materials are then provided for the teachers to take back to their school laboratories. Efforts have concentrated initially on the middle school years: a time when, sadly, many pupils turn away from science. Not only will pupils be engaged in practical molecular biology experiments, they will also be exploring the ethical, social and legal issues raised by the Human Genome Project. If all goes well, and there is every indication that it will, it seems as though school pupils will soon be generating human D N A sequence data for inclusion in the database - - and pursuing degrees in science in a few years' time into the bargain. [Leslie Roberts is a Contributing Correspondent for Science]
Announcements CAL 95, Cambridge, April 1995 The theme of CA L 95 is how to maximise successful learning with technology and how to learn from our experiences with it. The Conference will take place in Queens' College, Cambridge, UK: further information from C A L 95 Conference Secretariat, University of Cambridge Computing Service, New Museums Site, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QG, UK. FAX +44 223 334679, email [email protected]
17th Annual E A I R Forum Ziirieh 27-30 August 1995 The 17th Annual Forum of the European Association for Institutional Research entitled Dynamics in Higher Education: Traditions Challenged by New Paradigms will take place in Ziirich, Switzerland in August 1995. Further information from Marcel Herbst, E A I R Forum 1995, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, CH-8092 Ziirich, Switzerland, Fax (+411) 6323525, email [email protected]
Lexicon m Cumulative Index A cumulative index of Lexicon items from Volume 11 to Volume 20 has been prepared by M J de Matos (Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal). If you would like a print-out, please send a request to the Editorial Office of Biochemical Education.
Biochemical Game
Monitor
Polypeptide: From D N A and m R N A synthesis to a short polypeptide chain
ARTHUR C ROBINSON
A Biotopic game for AS and A levels, and Scottish Standard grades, by Dragonlink Associates Ltd, 68, Liverpool Road, Stoke on Trent ST4 1BG, UK This game, one of a series in the Biotopic games portfolio, comes in an A5 sized plastic wallet containing instructions, background notes, a die, and a pack of cards representing the different components of the protein synthesising machinery. The aim of the game is to build up the enzyme and nucleotide components in the correct order to allow synthesis of a tripeptide chain. This is done rather as in a beetle drive, by throwing the die until the number allocated to the necessary component is achieved. Each player is dealt a D N A sequence, the following numbers must then be thrown to collect the protein synthesising machinery and components in the correct order:
Number
Component
l 1 or 2 1, 2 or 3 next round 1, 2, 3 or 4 1, 2, 3 or 5 1, 2, 3 or 6 next round 1,2, 3 or 5 1, 2, 3 or 6
D N A uncoil enzyme D N A unzip enzyme RNA polymerase enzyme exchange enzymes for mRNA ribosome start tRNA ATP move ribosome to next codon aminoacyl tRNA ATP
The last three moves are repeated, until a tripeptide containing glycine, valine and cysteine is made. The winner is the first person to collect the correct tripeptide chain for their original piece of D N A , the instructions suggest this should be checked by the other players. I estimate that a game with four players would last about half an hour. The game does assume some background knowledge. It is necessary for example for players to know which bases in DNA pair with which R N A bases, as well as which R N A : R N A base pairs are allowed. Knowledge of the genetic code is not required as the t R N A cards specify which amino acid is associated with the anticodon. Two misprints on the playing cards are particularly annoying as they reinforce the same error. The ~'coden location" on the ribosome is matched by an "anticoden triplet" on the t R N A molecule. Otherwise the game is an accurate if simplistic representation of the protein synthesis process. The rules once deciphered are fairly simple, and the game's aims are certainly laudable. It seems to me that it would be best played with a teacher who could point out some of the oversimplifications, and prompt students into thinking around the game. Such questions might include, what other codons code for the three amino acids? How does the ribosome know when to stop? What are the real names of the D N A uncoil and unzip enzymes? My main reservation about the game is that its visual presentation is not sufficiently striking. We live in a time when cereal packets give away free holographic images, and are printed with multicoloured board games set in outer space; and computers have ever more realistic simulations of complex fantasy worlds. Given this cultural background it is hard to imagine a group of sixth formers sitting down to a board game consisting of pink and blue cards and a green die with excitement, however worthy its educational aims. Hopefully some sixth form teacher will tell me I'm wrong. J D Houghton
B I O C H E M I C A L E D U C A T I O N 22(4) 1994
Department of Biological Sciences Napier University Edinburgh EHIO 5DT, Scotland Roberts, L U W Team Reaches Out to Grade- and High-School
Students Science 264, 208 (1994) Having achieved his goal of transforming genome research through the development of automated D N A sequencing and D N A synthesizing machines, Leroy Hood is currently bringing physicists, chemists, engineers and computer scientists together in one department at the University of Washington (UW). Their remit is to work side-by-side with biologists to develop new technologies that will take biology into the twenty-first century. A major spin-off from this venture in Seatlle is that the local high school pupils are currently learning to synthesize D N A , carry out thermal cycling (modified for use in frying pans!) and gel electrophoresis, and even to sequence DNA. As part of UW's Department of Biotechnology outreach programme, Hood has requested that faculty members devote 5-10% of their time for the development of summer schools at which school teachers will be given 'hands-on' experience of molecular biological methods such as the polymerase chain reaction and restriction mapping. Free kits and materials are then provided for the teachers to take back to their school laboratories. Efforts have concentrated initially on the middle school years: a time when, sadly, many pupils turn away from science. Not only will pupils be engaged in practical molecular biology experiments, they will also be exploring the ethical, social and legal issues raised by the Human Genome Project. If all goes well, and there is every indication that it will, it seems as though school pupils will soon be generating human D N A sequence data for inclusion in the database - - and pursuing degrees in science in a few years' time into the bargain. [Leslie Roberts is a Contributing Correspondent for Science]
Announcements CAL 95, Cambridge, April 1995 The theme of CA L 95 is how to maximise successful learning with technology and how to learn from our experiences with it. The Conference will take place in Queens' College, Cambridge, UK: further information from C A L 95 Conference Secretariat, University of Cambridge Computing Service, New Museums Site, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QG, UK. FAX +44 223 334679, email [email protected]
17th Annual E A I R Forum Ziirieh 27-30 August 1995 The 17th Annual Forum of the European Association for Institutional Research entitled Dynamics in Higher Education: Traditions Challenged by New Paradigms will take place in Ziirich, Switzerland in August 1995. Further information from Marcel Herbst, E A I R Forum 1995, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, CH-8092 Ziirich, Switzerland, Fax (+411) 6323525, email [email protected]
Lexicon m Cumulative Index A cumulative index of Lexicon items from Volume 11 to Volume 20 has been prepared by M J de Matos (Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal). If you would like a print-out, please send a request to the Editorial Office of Biochemical Education.