DNA / Protein Synthesis Animation

The structure of DNA, DNA recombination and the processes of Protein Synthesis (transcription and translation) are basic tenants of biotechnology. Each play a significant role in understanding what is biochemically happening when DNA is recombined or genetically engineered.

Your job is to create an 8-panel comic strip featuring one of those topics as the main role (the structure of DNA, DNA replication, transcription, translation). Be creative, give the biotechnology topic shape, feeling, and other human characteristics. Involve them in love-triangles, separation anxieties, or any other human-like situation.

Requirements: In your comic strip you must discuss where it is occurring in the cell, the importance of it taking place (building up or breaking down), and the specific conditions under which the topic can work, and how the structure(s) change or are altered. Your final comic strip must also be in COLOR! (You must include ALL of these requirements to get full credit.)

Tips: Before you start writing and drawing on the comic strip template, write out your dialogue on a separate sheet of paper and include some sample drawings of what you want your characters to look like. Also, when you are ready to draw your final draft on the comic strip, do it first in PENCIL, then trace over it in pen (if desired).

But Teacher! I can’t think of anything!

Well, here is an example story line… (You CANNOT use this exact story as your own!)

DNA and mRNA are madly in love with each other, but they must work out some “issues” before they get married. They interview many marriage counselors, but none seems to be the right “fit” until they find Dr. tRNA, who helps them build a stable, peptide-like relationship.