Fishing nucleotides: a new educative game for complement the teaching of the protein synthesis for high school students

A new game, using analogies, presents the main aspects of protein synthesis. The purpose of this practice is to improve learning about the process of protein synthesis for students in high school. We use low cost and easy access materials to the development of this game. For students to understand the theory must be an introductory lecture on protein synthesis, before the implementation of this practice. To play, students are divided into two groups. The teacher gives each group a plug, representing an amino acid and a table with the genetic code. Students start the game by answering the questions raised by the opponent to get the permission for fishing from the nitrogen base. If the answer is correct the nitrogen bases will be delivered to the group, which will have to fill a panel that contains sequences corresponding to the messenger RNA, DNA and complementary DNA template, decoded from the amino acid provided by the teacher early in the game. The first group to complete all the steps of protein synthesis wins the game. The application of this practice in schools in the high schools of the Manaus city returned an excellent acceptance by the teachers, who reported the great enthusiasm of his students to use the game and an improvement in the understanding of the issue addressed in the classroom. Teachers also commented on the versatility of this practice, which was successfully used to address other issues. So the game is a practice that can be developed to complement the theoretical classes on the subject.

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