Ribosome Runner

🧬 Learn how DNA becomes a protein — step by step

Made by Ghaleb Sabri

🧬

Transcription
18 bases

🔬

Translation
6 codons

⚡

Mutations
3 types

🏆

Score & Grade
compete!

📋 How to Play

STAGE 1

🧬 Transcription — Build the mRNA

You will see a DNA strand (18 bases). One base glows yellow — that is the next base to read. Choose the correct mRNA base that matches it.

📌 Pairing Rules (DNA → mRNA):

A

pairs with

U

A → U

T

pairs with

A

T → A

C

pairs with

G

C → G

G

pairs with

C

G → C

STAGE 2

🔬 Translation — Read the Codons

The mRNA is split into groups of 3 bases called codons. The ribosome (the yellow robot) reads one codon at a time. For each codon, pick the tRNA anticodon that matches it. The anticodon brings the right amino acid to build the protein!

📌 Codons in this game:

AUGanticodon: UAC →Methionine (Start)

GCUanticodon: CGA →Alanine

AAAanticodon: UUU →Lysine

UCGanticodon: AGC →Serine

CAUanticodon: GUA →Histidine

UGA🛑 STOP Codon — no anticodon, protein is released!

STAGE 3

⚡ Mutation Challenge

After you build the protein, a DNA mutation happens! You will see how a change in DNA affects the mRNA codon and the amino acid. Then answer 3 questions to test what you learned. There are 3 types of mutations: substitution (swap), insertion (add), and deletion (remove).

🏆 Scoring

+10 points for every correct answer. −5 points for wrong answers (score cannot go below 0). Aim for a perfect score!

TRANSCRIPTION

TRANSLATION

MUTATION

STAGE 1 — TRANSCRIPTION

⭐ 0

0 / 18 bases built

👆 The glowing DNA base is the next one to read. Choose the mRNA base that matches it.

Pairing rules: A→U · T→A · C→G · G→C

🧬 DNA Template Strand

💬 mRNA Strand (Building...)

Choose the mRNA base that pairs with DNA base

TRANSCRIPTION ✓

TRANSLATION

MUTATION

STAGE 2 — TRANSLATION

⭐ 0

Codon 1 of 6

💬 mRNA Strand — Codon Groups

🔬 The ribosome is reading this codon:

↓ Choose the matching tRNA anticodon below ↓

⚗️ Growing Protein Chain

Amino acids will appear here as you build the protein...

TRANSCRIPTION ✓

TRANSLATION ✓

MUTATION ⚡

STAGE 3 — MUTATION CHALLENGE

⭐ 0

Step 1 of 3 — Mutation Discovery

🏆

You Completed the Protein Synthesis Lab!

Transcription → Translation → Mutation Analysis. You've mastered it all!

⭐ 0

🧬 DNA → mRNA Transcription Summary

⚗️ Normal Protein Chain

⚡ Mutant Protein Chain

🧬 What you learned today:

• Transcription: DNA is copied into mRNA. Each DNA base has a matching mRNA base (A→U, T→A, C→G, G→C).

• Codons: mRNA is read in groups of 3 bases called codons. Each codon codes for one amino acid.

• tRNA & Anticodon: A tRNA brings the correct amino acid. Its anticodon must match the mRNA codon.

• Protein: Amino acids are joined together to make a protein chain. A STOP codon ends the chain.

• Mutations: A change in DNA can change the mRNA codon and the amino acid — or sometimes nothing changes at all (silent mutation)!

Made by Ghaleb Sabri