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9th grade · Science · Unit 3 of 14

DNA, RNA & Proteins

DNA's structure, how genes become proteins, mutations and DNA technology.

What your child practices

Practices the parts of DNA and how base sequences code for traits, transcription and translation (DNA to RNA to protein), kinds of mutations and their effects, and molecular technologies such as PCR, gel electrophoresis and genetic engineering.

Alabama Course of Study content standard: BIO.2 · DNA and RNA in transcription and translation to make proteins

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. DNA bases pair: adenine with thymine, guanine with cytosine.
  2. DNA is transcribed into RNA, then translated into a protein.
  3. A substitution swaps one base for another. Gel electrophoresis separates DNA fragments by size.

Example: One DNA strand reads ATGC. What is the matching strand? A pairs with T and G pairs with C. A→T, T→A, G→C, C→G. Answer: TACG

DNA, RNA & Proteins in Alabama

In the Alabama Course of Study, this is unit 3 of 14 in 9th grade Science, after Biomolecules & Enzymes and before Cells from Cells.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    A DNA nucleotide is made of a sugar, a phosphate and a…

    • amino acid
    • glucose chain
    • fatty acid
    • nitrogen base

  2. Question 2

    In DNA, adenine pairs with…

    • uracil
    • thymine
    • cytosine
    • guanine

  3. Question 3

    The order of bases in a gene determines the order of…

    • amino acids in a protein
    • sugars in starch
    • lipids in a membrane
    • cells in a tissue

  4. Question 4

    A mutation is…

    • a new organelle
    • a change in diet
    • a change in the DNA sequence
    • any learned behavior

  5. Question 5

    PCR is used to…

    • grow plants
    • cut cells in half
    • measure pH
    • make many copies of a DNA segment

  6. Question 6

    Scientists study how DNA first arose by testing hypotheses such as the idea that RNA came first. This is an example of…

    • examining scientific explanations with evidence
    • a law of physics
    • proving a fact with one test
    • skipping evidence

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