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Translation Step-Through Simulator

View Translation Simulator Fullscreen

About This MicroSim

This step-through simulator visualizes protein translation from an mRNA template (AUG-GCU-UAC-AAA-CGC-UGA), encoding Met-Ala-Tyr-Lys-Arg-Stop. Students advance through initiation (small subunit binding, initiator tRNA, large subunit joining), elongation (codon recognition, peptide bond formation, translocation for each codon), and termination (release factor binding, polypeptide release). The ribosome's A, P, and E sites are labeled, tRNAs are shown with anticodons, and the growing polypeptide chain is displayed as color-coded amino acid circles.

How to Use

  1. Click "Next" to advance through each sub-step of translation.
  2. Watch the ribosome move along the mRNA — the A (aminoacyl), P (peptidyl), and E (exit) sites are labeled above.
  3. Observe tRNAs arriving with amino acids and their anticodons base-pairing with mRNA codons.
  4. Track the polypeptide growing at the top of the screen as each amino acid is added.
  5. Toggle "Anticodons" to show or hide the anticodon labels on tRNAs.
  6. Read the description panel at each step for detailed molecular explanations.
  7. Use "Previous" to revisit earlier steps or "Reset" to start over.

Lesson Plan

Grade Level

9-12 (college placement Biology)

Duration

10-15 minutes

Prerequisites

  • Understanding of mRNA codons and the genetic code
  • Knowledge of ribosome structure (large and small subunits)
  • Familiarity with tRNA structure and amino acid attachment

Activities

  1. Exploration (5 min): Step through the entire translation process. At each step, identify: What is in the A site? The P site? The E site? How many amino acids are in the chain?
  2. Guided Practice (5 min): Before clicking "Next" at each elongation step, predict what will happen next (which tRNA arrives, where the peptide bond forms, how translocation moves everything). Then check your prediction.
  3. Assessment (5 min): From memory, list the three stages of translation and the three sub-steps within each elongation cycle. Then verify against the simulator.

Assessment

  • Can students name the three stages of translation (initiation, elongation, termination)?
  • Can students describe the three sub-steps of elongation (codon recognition, peptide bond formation, translocation)?
  • Can students explain why no tRNA binds to a stop codon and what binds instead?
  • Can students trace which tRNA site (A, P, E) each tRNA occupies at each step?

References

  1. Translation (biology) - Wikipedia
  2. Ribosome - Wikipedia
  3. Transfer RNA - Wikipedia