Who is our lecture designed for?

1. The road that takes us from gene to proteinAnna-Rachel GallagherAna-Maria DragoiJames MunroOscar Ramirez

2. Who is our lecture designed for? • The class is an introductory course aimed at exposing students to a wide variety of subjects without exploring the specifics (which will be covered in higher-level courses). • Our target audience is undergraduate students from different academic, cultural, racial, ethnic, and other backgrounds. • The expectations are that the students read before class and come prepared to participate in class activities

3. What is the Goal? The goal is to understand the concept of gene expression and how understanding this knowledge has helped generate transgenic organisms for human use.

4. What are the Learning Objectives?: • Students will learn: • that proteins are generated through the processes of transcription and translation and where each of these occurs in the cell • how modification of a gene can lead to a change in protein shape and/or function. • components of a gene required to make a transgenic organism

5. Activity #1: Think-pair-share Answer the following question individually. Write your answers down, consider the scope of the class and the materials that have been covered. What is the main determinant of protein’s shape? Now, pair up with a person next to you and discuss your answers. If your answers are the same the group has an answer. If your answers are not the same Talk about it and write down one answer for the pair. (again, about 1 minute)

6. The Correct Answer!! The amino acid sequence of the protein is the main determinant of it’s shape. While we will acknowledge and accept that multiple factors contribute to determine a protein shape, given the level of the course we will consider this for the time being as the correct answer.

7. Activity #2 What is the correct sequence of events during gene expression? Protein, transcription, DNA, translation, RNA DNA, transcription, RNA, translation, protein RNA, translation, DNA, transcription, protein Transcription, DNA, translation, RNA, protein

8. Activity #2 What is the correct sequence of events during gene expression? Protein, transcription, DNA, translation, RNA DNA, transcription, RNA, translation, protein RNA, translation, DNA, transcription, protein Transcription, DNA, translation, RNA, protein

9. Name: Activity #3 This is a map of a gene that has a coding region and regulatory region, working in small groups (2 to 3 people) discuss with your neighbor and fill in the blanks that describe the function of each part of the gene using the words provided in the bubble. Note there are some words that do not fit in the blanks, please choose the ones that you think are correct. For example, the regulatory region (promoter sequence) is important for where the gene is expressed and the coding sequence is important for ……………………. This exercise should take approx. 5 minutes. After the exercise is completed please write you name on the top of the handout and they will collected after class. REGULATORY (promoter) CODING sequence Expression TRANSGENE Protein function Amino acid sequence Timing Nucleotides Location RNA Amount Function Shape DNA sequence

10. Name: Activity #3 ANSWER SHEET. REGULATORY (promoter) CODING sequence Function Expression TRANSGENE Amount Protein function Timing Shape Amino Acid sequence Location Nucleotides The words left in the bubble are associated with gene expression but do not fit in the blanks. RNA DNA sequence

11. Activity #4 During gene expression the messenger RNA is trafficked out of the nucleus. What happens next? The ribosome translates the mRNA into protein in the cytoplasm The ribosome brings the mRNA back into the nucleus to be translated RNA polymerase translates the mRNA into protein in the cytoplasm Nothing. That’s the end of the process.

12. Activity #4 During gene expression the messenger RNA is trafficked out of the nucleus. What happens next? The ribosome translates the mRNA into protein in the cytoplasm The ribosome brings the mRNA back into the nucleus to be translated RNA polymerase translates the mRNA into protein in the cytoplasm Nothing. That’s the end of the process.

13. Activity #5 A good time to debate Genetic engineeringgene manipulation for practical purposes Big discoveries: Genetic reprogramming of adult cells into STEM cells was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 2012 Sir John B. Gurdon Shinya Yamanaka

14. Milestones The era of genetic engineering The era of STEM cells • 2007-Induction of Stem Cells from Adult Human Cells by Defined Factors. • 2013 -Hematopoietic Stem Cell Gene Therapy Benefits Genetic Diseases in Children. • 1978 - Genentech announced the production of genetically engineered human insulin. • 1999 - Jesse Gelsinger died due to a massive immune response following an injection with a vector carrying a corrected gene.

15. Activity #5: The great debate The students will be randomly divided into two groups (for smaller classes) and 4 or 6 groups for larger classes. This way half of the class will brainstorm about the positive side and advantages of using genetic engineering (in medicine, agriculture etc) while the other group will think about possible negative effects. Students will have 10 minutes to think about and write down a list of possible pros/cons of genetic engineering. After the exercise is completed students will write down their ideas on the board. Discussion will start once all the groups have written down their ideas and the students can defend their points of view.

16. Activity #5: The great debate Pros Cons

17. We hope we accomplished our goals At the end of our lecture we hope that the students have an understanding of: • How proteins are made and where this occurs in the cell. • How modification of a gene can lead to a change in shape and and/or function. • How our understanding of these concepts has led to the design and use of transgenic animals for human benefit.