Homepage | Minecraft: Education Edition



MINECRAFT Education Edition – Minecraft DNADNA has the information to make proteins, can you reverse engineer a protein to make a DNA molecule?Introduction:Can you be the first team to reverse engineer a DNA molecule based off a polypeptide sequence and to build this molecule in Minecraft Education Edition? You will need to collect the materials you need to construct it from underground and you will be competing against 8 other teams. The team who can build the most accurate and complete molecule in the allotted time will be victorious!Learning Objectives:Students will learn the components that make up a DNA molecule and the structure of DNA.Students will learn how the sequence of nucleotides in DNA determine an amino acid sequence in a proteinStudents will learn the link between DNA, mRNA, and amino acids.Students will learn how to use a codon chart.Students will learn skills to collaboratively work together for a common goal.Instructions:DNA contains the information in a 4-letter code to make proteins. Proteins go on to be the molecules that build the organism. If you need to remind yourself of this process, go to know that the sense stand of the DNA is transcribed into a mRNA molecule. That RNA then leaves the nucleus, and, at a ribosome, matches up with a tRNA molecule that molecules each bring an amino acid to combine to form the protein. They match up 3 letters at a time on the mRNA (codon) to the corresponding 3 letters on the right tRNA (anticodon).Below is a codon chart showing the amino acids that will be added to the protein (poly-peptide) based off the codons on the mRNA molecule. AUG is a start sequence.3725173221431Fig 1: Codon Chart - 1: Codon Chart - example of the process written in a simple form is below. Remember that in DNA the 4 bases are Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Guanine (G) and Cytosine (C). In RNA T is replaced by Uracil (U). Also, A is complimentary to T/U and C to G.8924552499462Fig 2: DNA to protein - 2: DNA to protein - task will be to determine the sequence of a DNA molecule based off an amino acid sequence. There will be multiple versions of the DNA strand possible as several codons code for the same amino acid.An example: If the sequence of the amino acids is Start – Valine – Proline – Arginine – Lysine – Stop, an example of a DNA sequence that would code for this can be determined using Fig 1.Therefore, if we tip this on its side and construct this as a DNA molecule the first rung will be TA the second AT etc.In Minecraft we are going to use coloured concrete to represent the parts of a DNA molecule as below (Fig 3).6912862870124Fig 3: Colours we will use for the construction.00Fig 3: Colours we will use for the construction.A DNA molecule would look like Fig 4 as a double helix. With the helix alternating sugar and phosphates, and the rungs the nucleotides.11659873212363Fig 4. Double Helix in Minecraft showing the components.00Fig 4. Double Helix in Minecraft showing the components.From above you would construct the helix as shown below.11849353218535Fig 5. The helix from above00Fig 5. The helix from aboveThe winning team will be the team that has completed most of the DNA strand and is the most accurate in the time allowed. Good luck!Below are the polypeptide sequences that each group will need to use to create their DNA moleculeGroup 1/5:Start – Threonine – Lysine – Serine – Valine – StopGroup 2/6:Start – Tryptophan – Methionine – Proline – Valine – StopGroup 3/7:Start – Glycine – Alanine–Proline – Valine – StopGroup 4/8:Start – Threonine – Tyrosine – Valine – Serine – StopTeacher notes.The following will help you manage the process and students in game as how it was designed. Minecraft DNA was designed to be a once off lesson for a Year 10 (15-16 years old) Biology class. The students pre-learning would be the basics of the structure of DNA, Transcription, Translation and protein synthesis. This task is used to supplement this. They would be expected to submit their groups working on paper for this task also. This takes between 1hour and 1.5 hours.The idea is that the 8 teams, will first need to use an amino acid sequence to determine an appropriate DNA sequence. Then they will need to mine the blocks they need from under the ground and construct it. Survival and mobs are on, so they will also need to make gear and survive in the process. I wanted to make it feel and look like a game as much as possible. They are fenced into their own identical zone underground. Their spawn points are also set to their zone. This is a once off disposable map!Before students log in:Divide the class into a maximum of 8 groups.Make sure the world is set up and appropriate settings turned on/off. Near the big DNA molecule in the centre there is a button you can press to set most of these up examples below.Ensure that:All players have worldbuilder and OP turned off – This should be default anywayPVP is turned offMob spawning turned onDestructive objects turned offSurvival mode turned onImmutable world turned on. Students should only be allowed to build in their zones.Once they log in:They will spawn in up high on a platform. They will then need to go through the gate for their team and wait underground in a holding cell till all players are ready. If they chose the wrong team, there is a teleporter back and they can choose again.Once all teams are ready in their holding cells (they should stand in the middle), the teacher can press the start game button on the base of the demo DNA. After a countdown, they will be given beef to eat and be teleported to their game area. They also will have the spawn point set to their area if they die.The teacher can fly around and manage the game in progress.Locations of interest:Game area spawns to manually TP playersTeam 1: 270 71 -52Team 2: 301 71 -52Team 3: 336 71 -54Team 4: 335 71 -9Team 5: 272 71 -23Team 6: 271 71 24Team 7: 301 71 12Team 8: 334 71 8If a student is doing the wrong thing, you can tp them to a detention cell @ 309 73 -67The big DNA block is at:315 69 -15The holding cells before the game is at:258 11 58If you have any issues, suggestions or queries please email me at:brett.smith@orbrett.smith@hutchins.tas.edu.auInstructions in Minecraft:Welcome to Minecraft DNAYour teacher will have given you some documentation for your group to use the amino acid sequence in a short polypeptide to reverse engineer a possible DNA molecule that would have the code for that polypeptide. Remember the start and stop sequences.Your groups task is to collect coloured concrete hidden under the ground to build this DNA molecule. Copy the structure of the example one in the centre but use your own sequence. Accuracy is important.Remember to build tools, torches and there is a hidden chest! Good Luck!Guiding Questions:How does a DNA molecules code have the information to make a protein?Why does the same code always produce the same protein?Can you work out a DNA sequence based on an amino acid sequence in a protein (poly-peptide)?Student Activities:Students will need to use a given amino acid sequence from a protein and a codon chart to determine an appropriate DNA sequence that could make that protein. Then in Minecraft EE, they will need to mine for the materials they need to make a model of this DNA molecule in game. Each team will be pre-made and will have their own private zone to mine and build. They will need to build their own tools to complete the challenge. Watch out! Survival is on, so mobs might spawn in their area if they are not careful! ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download