Students often struggle with the concept of protein synthesis, which incorporates two main processes: transcription and translation. This article describes an activity in which students use craft supplies to physically model the process of translation. The teacher creates the modeling kits, and then students use a worksheet to prepare the kit for a specific amino acid sequence. They practice the process of translation, including the start, tRNAs movement through the ribosome, the amino acid chain building, and the stop. This article describes how to create the model kits and implement the activity in the classroom. We have performed this hands-on activity in college classrooms as large as 170 students. Students appreciate the hands-on approach and find the activity extremely useful in understanding translation. While students model translation, the teaching team identifies and helps students overcome any misconceptions and gaps in their knowledge.
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August 2020
Research Article|
August 01 2020
Modeling RNA Translation with Craft Supplies
Andrea M.-K. Bierema
Andrea M.-K. Bierema
ANDREA M.-K. BIEREMA is an Academic Specialist in the Center for Integrative Studies in General Science and the Department of Integrative Biology at Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824; e-mail: abierema@msu.edu.
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The American Biology Teacher (2020) 82 (6): 409–412.
Citation
Andrea M.-K. Bierema; Modeling RNA Translation with Craft Supplies. The American Biology Teacher 1 August 2020; 82 (6): 409–412. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/abt.2020.82.6.409
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