Today is rung 4 of 8 on this topic
DNA, protein synthesis and inheritance
Can do: Explains how DNA codes for proteins and predicts inheritance with a Punnett square.
Why it matters
It's the mechanism underneath everything else in biology, and the gene-to-trait chain is what most students never quite assemble.
What it looks like when it's wobbly
Knows DNA carries information but has no chain from gene to protein to trait.
⏱️ Two-minute check
"How does a change in DNA change an organism? Walk me from gene to trait."
Solid looks like: DNA → mRNA → protein → function → trait, in order.
The full activity for this topic · 30 minutes
Build the Chain
- 1Write a short DNA sequence and transcribe it to mRNA, then translate it with a codon table.
- 2Change one base and translate again. Sometimes nothing changes; sometimes everything does.
- 3Discuss why that explains both harmless variation and genetic disease.
- 4Do a Punnett square for a real trait and predict ratios.
- 5Extract DNA from strawberries — it's visible with kitchen equipment and it makes the molecule real.
If it's too hard
Punnett squares for one trait only.
If it's too easy
Dihybrid crosses, and sex-linked inheritance with a pedigree chart.
Say this
"Change one letter. Does the protein change? Sometimes it doesn't — why not?"