Lesson 4. Understanding Genetic Switch Part 3: Genetic Regulation

Sugat Dabholkar
Biology
2 class periods (90 min)
High School
v1

Overview

In this lesson, students synthesize the ideas from the previous two lessons to develop deep understanding of molecular mechanisms of genetic regulation. 

Standards

Next Generation Science Standards
  • Life Science
    • [HS-LS4] Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
  • NGSS Practice
    • Analyzing Data
    • Communicating Information
    • Constructing Explanations, Designing Solutions
    • Asking Questions, Defining Problems
    • Using Models
    • Arguing from Evidence
    • Conducting Investigations
Computational Thinking in STEM
  • Data Practices
    • Analyzing Data
    • Collecting Data
    • Creating Data
    • Manipulating Data
    • Visualizing Data
  • Modeling and Simulation Practices
    • Using Computational Models to Find and Test Solutions
    • Using Computational Models to Understand a Concept
  • Systems Thinking Practices
    • Investigating a Complex System as a Whole
    • Thinking in Levels
    • Understanding the Relationships within a System

Activities

  • 1. Understanding mechanisms of genetic regulation 1
  • 2. Understanding mechanisms of genetic regulation 2
  • 3. Describing mechanisms of genetic regulation
  • 4. Upload your NetLogo Logging File

Student Directions and Resources


In this lesson, you will explore DNA protein interactions further to understand the molecular mechanisms of genetic regulation.

Let's get started!

1. Understanding mechanisms of genetic regulation 1


Some proteins are always present, whereas some proteins appear and disappear based on certain conditions, like the presence or absence of certain sugars.


Question 1.1

What are the conditions that make certain proteins appear and some proteins disappear? 



Question 1.2

Explain how you figured out the answer.

Part 1: What were the changes that you made in the model?



Question 1.3

Part 2: What were your observations?



Question 1.4

Part 3: How did you arrive at your answer using your observations.



Question 1.5

Upload the supporting materials (experimental evidence for your answer) here. Make sure that the file size is less than 2 MB.

Upload files that are less than 5MB in size.
File Delete
Upload files to the space allocated by your teacher.


2. Understanding mechanisms of genetic regulation 2


Let's understand why the appearance and disappearance of the proteins might be important for a cell.


Question 2.1

Do you think the appearance and disappearance of proteins is important for a cell. Explain your answer.

Hint: Observe the energy graph carefully under different conditions.  



Question 2.2

State your answer in form of a testable hypothesis.



Question 2.3

Write an experimental design to text your hypothesis.



Question 2.4

Write your experimental observations and conclusions. 



Question 2.5

Upload the supporting materials (experimental evidence for your answer) here. Make sure that the file size is less than 2 MB.

Upload files that are less than 5MB in size.
File Delete
Upload files to the space allocated by your teacher.


3. Describing mechanisms of genetic regulation


In this lesson, we are trying to understand the mechanism of genetic regulation in case of this particular genetic switch. Let's describe it as we understand it.


Question 3.1

When there are changes in the external environment in terms of presence or absence of certain sugars, different proteins are produced. This is called ‘genetic regulation’ of protein production. How is this achieved in the cell?

How is it related to the energy changes of the cell?



Question 3.2

We have observed how a cell responds differently in terms of protein production to the presence or absence of lactose or glucose in the environment. Molecular biologists refer to this as a Genetic Switch. Can you think of a reason why? Can you explain why it is a genetic switch?



Question 3.3

What is one big idea that you learned in this unit so far? Explain in detail.

4. Upload your NetLogo Logging File


NetLogo’s logging facility allows researchers to record student actions for later analysis.

Use the following information to find a logging file on your computer.

Logs are stored in the OS-specific temp directory. On most Unix-like systems that is /tmp. On Windows computers the logs can be found in c:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Temp, where <user> is the logged in user.

On Mac OS X, the temp directory varies for each user. You can determine your temp directory by opening the Terminal application and typing echo $TMPDIR at the prompt.

After you find the log files (.xml format), check for the file names that correspond to the date today. Upload those files.


Question 4.1

Upload your NetLogo logging file here.

Upload files that are less than 5MB in size.
File Delete
Upload files to the space allocated by your teacher.