Subscribe

9th grade · Science · Unit 9 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.

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) teks student expectation: B.7(A); B.7(B); B.7(C); B.7(D) · DNA structure, protein synthesis, mutations, and DNA technologies

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 Texas

In the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), this is unit 9 of 14 in 9th grade Science, after Cell Types, Transport & Specialization and before Genetic Crosses.

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: Texas Education Agency (TEA)

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

    DNA is shaped like a…

    • sphere
    • double helix
    • single straight line
    • cube

  2. Question 2

    A mutation that does not change the amino acid is…

    • lethal
    • silent
    • harmful always
    • frameshift

  3. Question 3

    Which molecule brings amino acids to the ribosome?

    • rRNA only
    • mRNA
    • tRNA
    • DNA

  4. Question 4

    A codon is a group of ___ mRNA bases.

    • ten
    • three
    • four
    • two

  5. Question 5

    Gel electrophoresis separates DNA fragments by…

    • color
    • taste
    • temperature
    • size

  6. Question 6

    Inserting a human insulin gene into bacteria is an example of…

    • osmosis
    • natural selection
    • genetic engineering
    • mitosis

More 9th grade