US3804417A

US3804417A - Protein synthesis game

Info

Publication number: US3804417A
Application number: US00353741A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Dawson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-04-23
Filing date: 1973-04-23
Publication date: 1974-04-16
Anticipated expiration: 1991-04-16

Abstract

Game apparatus for instruction of the principles of protein synthesis involving a game board with representation of a blood circulatory system including the body organs of lungs, intestines, heart and liver and separate components representative of cells for the stomach, the pancreas, the bone marrow, and the pituitary gland. Movement from location to location about the system is from one cell component through the above body organs and return. Instructions at the locations provide for selection of game pieces representative of nucleotides, T-RNA''s, amino acids and peptide bonds. Amino acid game pieces are selected at the intestine organ and playable upon return to a cell. Separate courses are provided for the formation of a DNA molecule from nucleotides and binding of T-RNA units to amino acids and the joining of these elements at a ribosome space where peptide bonds can be joined to amino acids. The game pieces are coded to represent the various chemical components necessary for protein synthesis.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Dawson [111 3,804,417 [451 Apr. 16, 1974 PROTEIN SYNTHESIS GAME [76] Inventor: Rosette D. Dawson, 1015 Whitestone, Houston, Tex. 77090 [22] Filed: Apr. 23, 1973 [2]] Appl. No.: 353,741

[52] U.S. Cl. 273/134 AE, 35/18 A, 35/20, 273/134 AD, 273/134 D, 273/134 E, 273/ 135 F [51] Int. Cl. A63f 3/00 [58] Field of Search ..'.273/l34, 135 AD, 135 F; 35/18 R, 18 A, 20

[56] References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,270,675 6/1918 Wepler 273 134 GP 3,296,714 l/l967 3,423,093 1/1969 3,445,940 5/1969 3,594,924 7/1971 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 701,046 12/1964 Canada 273/135 F OTHER PUBLICATIONS Parker Bros. Game Birthday Cake, October, 19:12.

Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant ExaminerPaul E. Shapiro 57] ABSTRACT Game apparatus for instruction of the principles of protein synthesis involving a game board with representation of a blood circulatory system including the body organs of lungs, intestines, heart and liver and separate components representative of cells for the stomach, the pancreas, the bone marrow, and the pituitary gland. Movement from location to location about the system is from one cell component through the above body organs and return. Instructions at the locations provide for selection of game pieces representative of nucleotides, T-RNAs, amino acids and peptide bonds. Amino acid game pieces are selected-at the intestine organ and playable upon return to a cell. Separate courses are provided for the formation of a DNA molecule from nucleotides and binding of T-RNA units to amino acids and the joining of these elements at a ribosome space where peptide bonds can be joined to amino acids. The game pieces are coded to represent the various chemical components necessary for protein synthesis.

10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPRHSIHH V sum 1 0f 2 FIG? R/BOSOME DNA TEMPLATE NUCLEUS R/BOSOME PROTEIN SYNTHESIS GAME This invention relates to game apparatus, and more particularly, to an educational game apparatus of the type utilizing a game board having both game pieces and playing pieces and instructions thereon where such playing pieces or game pieces are selected or advanced responsive to the instructions which are determined by thedictates of a change device. The game apparatus is educational in that the playing of the game demonstrates the manufacture or synthesis of protein by the body cells.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART AND BACKGROUND Biochemistry is now being taught in an increasing number of schools at the high school level and while the subject is extremely interesting, it involves complex concepts which can be difficult for the student to comprehend properly. Mind-picture concepts are sometimesvery difficult to obtain and memory retention for correctly outlining the process or the manufacture of protein is difficult to master. In addition to having difficulty in mastering the memory aspects of protein synthesis, it is sometimes difficult to retain the attention span of high school students for a long enough period of time to enable proper teaching of the subject. This invention is directed toward a game apparatus which will enable the teacher or instructor to guide the students through a self-learning process while the students are involved in playing a game and thereby provide an understanding ofthe manufacture or synthesis of protein within the body cells.

Heretofore, so far as l am aware, there have been suggested models of the molecular processes for protein synthesis within a cell such as illustrated, for example in U.S. Pat. No. 3,296,714 and such as that illustrated in US. Pat. No. 3,445,940. These patents relate to structural elements to form visual models for the teaching or RNA protein synthesis. The value of models in providing a visual representation for students to observe is well established. However, the use of models for teaching is not nearly as effective as the technique wherein the student is actually involved in a selflearning process by actual manipulation of elements in relation to the manufacture of protein in the various body organs or elements. By providing protein models and a game to synthesize protein, maximum teaching advantages are obtained.

In body cells, and this invention is particularly related to understanding of body type cells, the cell membrane encloses a liquid suspension medium commonly referred to an cytoplasm. Within the cytoplasm, and suspended therein. are ribosomes and longchain molecules of nucleic acid generally of two types, deoxyribonucleic aid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). The DNA is found only within chromosomes which are within the nucleus of a cell, whereas most of the RNA is located in the cytoplasm. It is within the cell that the body chemicals interact and organize the amino acids to produce proteins.

A protein is a polymer-that is, a long molecule with repeating similar chemical units, and its basic unit is an amino acid. There are approximately 22 known amino acids which can be arranged to form proteins. It is the arrangement or interrelationship of the amino acids in a protein which provides the substance and identity to a protein. lf one amino acid is out of place in a protein, it can change or destroy the function of a particular protein. For example, normal hemoglobin has 574 amino acids. If just one amino acid, valine, is substituted in place or glutamic acid, you can have sickel cell hemoglobin and the disastrous effects of this particular protein.

The body cells are contantly generating proteins. A general theory for protein generation is that a body cell arranges a sequence of independent chemical groups called-nucleotides in an order or sequence as predetermined by a chemical DNA coding in the cell. When the predetermined sequence of nucleotides matches the DNA coding, this assembled groups of nucleotides is called a messenger RNA. The messenger RNAs com bine with those transfer RNAs (in the cytoplasm) which are combined with specific amino acids, and which match a defined segment of the messenger RNA. The transfer RNAs are a group of these nucleotides. When the messenger RNA and transfer RNAs combine, peptide bonds are formed between the amino acids. When the peptide bonds form, the amino acids detach from the transfer RNAs as a protein.

The nucleotides are a basic unit of a DNA and consist of a molecular group comprising one sugar goup, one phosphate group, and one chemical base. The structure of the nucleotides comprising the DNA is believed to be analogous to a ladder structure where the longitudinal sides or strands of the ladder are composed alternately of linking molecules or units of a sugar (deoxyribose) and a phosphate (phosphoric acid). The ladder rungs extending between the longitudinal strands are the most significant and are composed of one of a pair of chemical bases of adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine. Regarding a nucleotide as mentioned above, the chemical base then consists of one of the chemical bases of adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine. While there are only-four chemical bases in DNA, evidence indicates that the group of adenine and guanine do not bond to one another, and the group of cytosine and thymine do not bond to one another. Adenine and guanine are identifiable as purines, and cytosine and thymine are identifiable as pyrimidines. Thus, only the purine-pyrimidine bonds are possible, and the bonds between a purine and purine, or a pyrimidine and a pyrimidine, are theoretically impossible in the DNA structure. In fact, it has been found that an adenine is always joined to a thymine by a hydrogen bond, and similarly, a guanine is always connected to a cytosine by a hydrogen bond. When you separate a DNA mole cule between the junction of the two bases in the rungs, the resulting two halves of a DNA molecule are complementary. A nucleotide (a single phosphate-sugar base unit) in one half contains the purine, and the nucleotide in the other half will have the pryimidine. It is the order in which these pairs of bases are arrangedalong the ladder in the DNA model that determines a genetic DNA coding or arrangement.

in a cell, each amino acid becomes attached to a group of three nucleotides. Thus where the DNA code for example, includes 3,000 nucleotides, there are 1,000 amino acids in the resulting protein. Each group of three nucleotides for a DNA code cannot, however, directly obtain an alignment or order. The alignment or ordering occurs at a cell part called the Ribosome. To obtain alignment of the groups of three nucleotides with an attached amino acid, a messenger RNA unit is generated within the cell to cooperate with the Ribosome. The messenger RNA is a nucleic acid like the DNA except that the sugar group is ribose and uracil occurs instead of thymine as a base chemical. The messenger RNA is formed by coupling of nucleotides in a pattern after the DNA code or model, and after formation of the sequence of nucleotides, the messenger RNA attaches itself to a ribosome with its chemical bases exposed.

A group of three nucleotides which are coupled to one another are the functional group of a molecule called transfer RNAs (T-RNA), and they occur in the cytoplasm as segmental strands of three alternating sugar and phosphate groups and three exposed bases. Since there are only four bases, and these four bases can be used in a combination of three at a time in a transfer RNA, there are only 64 possible types of transfer RNAs. A transfer RNA is available to bind or combine with specific amino acids in the cell. Thus, the T-RNA unit, according to the order and composition of its base units, will bind with specific amino acids. The exposed base units of the T-RNA units also will attach to a messenger RNA at complementary locations. When the messenger RNA pattern is complementarily completed by the transfer RNA groups, the amino acids are lined up in a sequence as defined by the messenger RNA. At this time, peptide bonds are formed between each of the aligned amino acids. The attraction between the amino acids by the peptide bonds is greater than the attraction of the amino acids to the T-RNA units, and the acids separate from the T-RNA units to form the protein.

Briefly restating this process, A DNA template or coding in the cell for a strand of alternating phosphate and sugar units with exposed bases is present in the cell. Nucleotides in the cytoplasm line up and orient themselves in a bonded strand relationship which is a complement of the DNA template in a cell. When the nucleotides and the DNA template are in a completely complementary form, this group is a messenger RNA which contains the code word, in effect, and the messenger RNA then becomes attached to the ribosome. Meanwhile, in the cytoplasm, transfer RNA groups, which are strands of three alternating sugar and phosphate units with three exposed bases, respectively attract appropriate amino acids. The transfer RNAs with their bound amino acids will attach complementarily to a messenger RNA in the code order of the messenger RNA. When this happens, peptide bonds are formed between the amino acids. When the peptide bonds are formed between the amino acids, the amino acids lose their attraction for the transfer RNAs. The peptide bound amino acids are then set free as a protein in the cytoplasm. When this happens, the transfer RNA is releasedfromthe messenger RNA and the process is repeated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the game apparatus are game pieces consisting of sets where each set includes a minimum of:

1. One template game piece representative of a segment of DNA and having at least nine chemical base elements in a pre-determined sequence;

2. Nine separate game pieces symbolic of messenger RNA nucleotides for providing base elements corresponding to each of the base elements of a template member;

3. Three separate game pieces symbolic of transfer RNA for providing base elements corresponding to each group of three base elements on the template member;

4. Three amino acid game pieces for each of the transfer RNA units; and

5. Game pieces symbolic or peptide bonds for. coupling amino acid elements to one another.

The nucleotide game pieces have means are releasably attaching the game pieces to one another in a side by-side relationship. The amino acid game pieces have means for releasably coupling to the transfer RNA game pieces.

On a game board are four separate playing areas for four players, each of the playing areas representing a cell and having a first playing course comprised of playing spaces disposed between a space marked for a messenger RNA coding and an end space for designating ribosome, and a second playing course comprised of playing spaces disposed between a pair of spaces respectively marked for amino acid game pieces and transfer-RNA game pieces, and the ribosome end space. The game board further includes an independent playing course representative 'of a circulatory system including the heat, liver, lungs, and intestinal organs. Four additional body components such as the stomach, pancreas, pituitary gland, and bone marrow are represented on the board respectively with inlet and outlet courses to the main circulatory playing course. Playing pieces are provided for travel along the courses and are constructed for the transporting of amino acid game pieces along the course.

The game board has indicia thereon for a player to select game pieces necessary to form a messenger RNA, and for selecting appropriate complementary amino acid and transfer RNA game pieces. By selecting, moving, and combining the various game pieces, a symbolic representation of the formation of a protein can be simulated, and hence provide a teaching function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a game board for the game apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a perspective representation of game pieces for the game apparatus; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective representation of a playing piece for the game apparatus.

While the invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, a specific embodiment therefor, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1, a layout of a game board 10 is illustrated and shown in a generally rectangular configuration. Preferably, the game is made of a suitable hard rigid material, such as pressed wood, plastic, cardboard, or the like. The upper surface of the game board has a suitable indicia and graphic'illustrations provided by printing, etching, embossing, labeling, or the like. While many suitable names or the game'apparatus of the invention can be applied, this game apparatus is preferably referred to as a protein synthesis game.

In accordance with the protein synthesis game of this invention and for use on the game board 10, there are provided a number of component elements or game pieces for symbolizing the synthesis of a protein. Before explaining the apparatus, the game pieces will be considered.

In FIG. 2, a DNA template 11 which has a coding base upon nine exposed bases is illustrated for purposes of explanation. The template 11 is an elongated rectangular bar member and a typical strand of alternating sugar units (ribose) and phosphate units are represented by discs 12 and star-shaped units 13 disposed along an elongated upper or top surface of the bar member. Color coding of the discs 12 and stars 13 to a color coding legend on the board can be used to designate the chemical composition. Intermediate of the location of sugar units along the template 11 and extending outwardly from one of the side walls 14 of the bar member are short and long cylindrical shaped ex tensions 15(a-i) representing nine exposed chemical bases. As will be explained later, longer extensions represent one group of chemical bases, and shorter extensions represent another group of chemical bases. Color coding is used to identify particular chemical bases.

To the right of the DNA template 11 are members l6(a-.i) which are identically cube-shaped and which are symbolic of nucleotides. A disc 17 and star-shaped unit 18 are located on the upper surface of each unit as a representation of sugar and phosphate units. Extending outwardly from a side surface of each nucleotide member is cylindrically-shaped extension l6(aa-ii). The nucleotide extensions 16(aa-ii) can be long to be complementary to extension 15a or short to be complementary to 15b. In either case, when the nucleotide members are positioned side by side, a complementary model to the DNA template can be formed. On an adjacent lateral side of each cube member, to the side surface, carrying an extension, is a suitably attached magnet 19, and on the opposing lateral side of each cube member is a suitably attached flat piece of magnet material 20.

To the left of the DNA template in FIG. 2 are illustrations of elongated rectangularly-shaped block members 23(a-c), symbolic of T-RNA units. Each block member has a length equal to the length of three of the nucleotide units 16, and each has a group of three cylin drical extensions 23(aa-ii) extending from one longitu dinal side thereof-the extensions being short or long, depending upon the desired representation for a chemical base. On the upper surface of each unit 23(a-c) are three alternating discs 24, and stars'25, representative of sugar and phosphate, respectively. The positioning I of the cylindrical extensions along the longitudinal side relative to the positioning of cylindrical extensions in a nucleotide member is such that a complementary endto-end alignment of extensions for intercoupled nucleotides to the extensions of a T-RNA unit is possible. On the longitudinal side, surface opposite to the forward surface, a strip of magnetic material 27 is attached.-

To the far left of the DNA template 11 illustrated in FIG. 2 are elongated rectangularly-shaped block members 29(a-c) symbolic of amino acids. The amino acid members are somewhat shorter in length than the T-RNA members 23(a-c) and'have along their forward faces a flat magnet member 30. A cylindrically-shaped opening 31 extends through each member along an axis parallel to the magnet member 30 on the front surface of the member. The amino acid game pieces are identitied with regard to types of amino acid required for protein synthesis.

Wire-like elements 32 with hooked ends are provided where a pair of hooked ends are insertable into an opening 31 in an amino acid member 29(a-c). The wire-like elements 32 can be constructed from pipe cleaning elements and are symbolic of peptide bonds.

Returning now to the game board 10, is illustrated in rectangular form, and at each corner thereof, are indicia relating to a body cell. At the exact corners of the board are circumscribed

segmental areas

33, 34, 35, and 36 which respectively are entitled Ribosome". A first course 37 leading to the ribosome end space 33 includes six rectangular playing spaces 37(b-g) and a segmental area 37A entitled Nucleus--DNA Template. The first course 37 extends along one side 10a of the board from the ribosome space 33 to the midpoint of the board. As illustrated in FIG. 1, there are also first'courses 38, 39, and 40 for each of the

other ribosome spaces

34, 35, and 36. The

courses

38, 39, and 40 are similar in arrangement to course 37 and will not be further detailed. Courses 37' and 38 are disposed along one longitudinal side of the board and the two other

first courses

39 and 40 are located along the opposing longitudinal side of the board.

Second courses 41 44 leading to the respective ribosome spaces 33 36 are disposed along the remain ing two board sides 10c and 10b. The second course 41 is illustrated as exemplary and includes four rectangular playingspaces 41(c-f) intermediate of the ribosome space 33 and a pair of diamond-shaped boxes 41a and 41b. The diamond-shaped boxes 411a and 41b have lines 410a and 4Ibb extending from the respective boxes 41a and 41b to the first playing space 41c in a second course. The diamond-shaped boxes 41a and 41b are re, spectively labeled T-RNA and AA" for respective location of transfer RNA members 23(a-c) and amino acid members 29(a-c).

Considering the structure discussed this far, the cell representation includes the first course 37 wherein a messenger RNA can be formed in the space 37a and travel to the ribosome space 33. The second course 41 permits the binding of an amino acid to a transfer RNA and travel of this combination to the ribosome space. At the ribosome space 33, peptide bonds can be coupled between the amino acids for representation of the protein synthesis. On the board, the space marked NucleusDNA Template receives a DNA template 11. In the play of the game, chance movement of playing pieces representative of protoplasm onthe game course to be described hereinafter, can provide instructions to permit selection of nucleotide members 16(a-i) for complementary matching to the DNA template 11 in the DNA template playing space 37a. It will be recalled that when the nine nucleotide members 16(a-i) are releasably coupled to one another as the complement to the DNAtemplate Ill, they form a messenger RNA model having nine exposed bases are the coding of bases according to the template. Once a mesof T-RNA members 23(a-c) occurs, the corresponding segment of a T-RNA unit to a group of three bases on the DNA template may be selected and placed in the playing space 41a. As will be explained hereinafter, amino acid members 29(a-c) are selected in the play on the main game course and transferable to the playing space 41b in the second course only upon the occurrence of certain events. The T-RNA members 23(a-c) and corresponding amino acid members 29(a-c) can be combined and moved along the second playing course, as will hereinafter be explained, to the ribosome space 33. When the messenger RNA model and bound T-RNA and amino acids are in the ribosome space 33, the peptide bonds can be coupled to adjacent amino acid members. From the foregoing, it can be appreciated that the first and second courses define the protein synthesis process where a cell has a DNA- template and forms nucleotides into a messenger DNA, and where amino acids and transfer RNA bind to one another and, where the messenger DNA and the bound amino acids and transfer RNA combine in the ribosome.

Turning now to the main game course, there is a representation, in part, of a body circulatory system, in.- cluding the body organs of a heart 50, lungs 51, liver 52, and intestines 53. A blood flow path symbolic of arteries connects the lungs 51, the heat 50, and the intestines 53, and is represented in the board as path segments 54a and 54b. A blood flow path connects to the intestine, to the liver and to the heart and lungs and is symbolic of the vein return flow path and is represented as path segments 56a, 56b, and 560. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, there are four other body components represented, i.e., the stomach 60, the pancreas 61, bone marrow 62, and the pituitary gland 63.

The stomach 60 and pancreas 61 have inlet blood flow courses 58a and 59a which are respectively coupled between the organ and the segment 54b. Outlet blood flow courses 58b and 59b are respectively provided from the stomach and pancreas to the liver 52. The pituitary gland 63 and bone marrow 62 have inlet blood flow courses 60a and 61a, respectively coupled between the elements and segment 54b. Outlet blood flow courses 60b and 61b are respectively provided for the pituitary gland and bone marrow areas.

There are separate inlet and outlet courses for each of the elements of the stomach, pancreas, pituitary gland, and bone marrow. The stomach and pancreas have a common inlet junction 62a and outlet junctions 63a and 64a to the segment 56a. Between the inlet and outlet junctions are a number of playing spaces containing written instructions. The written instructions according to the table reproduced hereafter with reference to the letter designations of the drawings. The stomach and pancreas form a first pair of blood flow courses. The pituitary gland and bone marrow have a common inlet junction 64 and a common outlet junction 65 to the segment 56b. Between the inlet and outlet junctions are a number of playing spaces designated by letters and containing written instructions in accord with the table produced hereafter.

Each of the players is designated to be a cell of the pancreas, stomach, pituitary gland, or bone marrow, and the object of the game is, by chance, to move a plasma blob (playing piece'). through the circulatory system indicated on the board, acquiring amino acids and nucleotides to form messenger RNA and'transfer RNA in the playing areas for the cell and combining the various elements to synthesize a protein.

The blood flow course between the heart, lungs, small intestine, and lever are continuous, and contain playing spaces having written instructions according to the designations and table below. Each of the body element areas is provided with a starting space St and the travel of a playing piece is from the starting space St along the spaces which are solid, through the heart and lungs, and along the spaces which are circles to the intestine where an amino acid game piece can be picked up. To get an amino acid game piece into the cell playing course, the playing piece must travel from the intestine, through the heart and the lungs and return to a body element where the amino acid member can be transferred to a playing space in a cell such as block 41b.

The playing spaces may contain the following exemplary instructions:

TABLE OF PLAYING SPACES Space Space Designation Instructions A) Move messenger RNA one space B) Move messenger RNA two spaces C) Move T-RNA+AA one space E) Select 1 messenger RNA nucleotide F) Select 2 messenger RNA nucleotides G) Select a transfer RNA group H) Bind T-RNA and AA elements I) Form a Peptide Bond 1) Wild Plasma Spot" K) Diffusion Spots in Body Organ. If you have an Amino Acid. it can be placed in the cell.

L) Dissusion Spots in the Small Intestine. Player can select an I Amino Acid.

M) Anxiety speeds up heatbcat. Take another turn.

S) HAZARD-You have entered region of low concentration. Lose all amino acids on the blob to the surrounding tissue.

T) A Virus has taken over the DNA in your cell and is coming for different proteins. Lose two turns while your cell recovers.

U) Increased Muscel Activity has decreased Blood flow to digestive tract. Lose two turns.

V) One of your peptide bonds has been hydrolized. Discard it.

W) Your cell has just utilized one of your unbound amino acids for energy. Discard it.

If Messenger RNA or 9 nucleotides is complete Only if T-RNA and AA are bound to one another Group should match one of the groups of templates.

The T-RNA and AA must be complementary Only if the messenger RNA. T-RNA and AA are present in the ribosome Chose any of the foregoing listed options of A. C, E. G, H or I Playing and Game Pieces As a model arrangement for illustrating the manufacture of protein, the DNA template 11 is provided with the symbolic representation of a strand of sugar and phosphate units and at least nine chemical bases 15(a-i) represented by short and long extensions. For the nine chemical basis, there are three T-RNA units 23(a-c) which have chemical bases (23aa-23ii) corresponding to the identity and sequential arrangement of the nine bases (a-i) on thetemplate 11. For each of the T-RNA units 23(a-c) there is-an amino acid member 29(a-c) and there is a peptide bond member 32 for each two amino acid members. There are nine nucleotide members 16(a-i) which have complementary arranged chemical base elements 16(aa-ii) to the chemical bases 23(aa-ii) of theT'RNA members 23(a-c).

For the foregoing described body elements of the stomach, pancreas, pituitary gland, and bone marrow, the respective cells have different templates. For an explanation of the templates and other game pieces, the following schedule is provided for representation of the chemical bases to simplify the tables relative to color coding of the game pieces.

COLOR CODING TABLE Base Color Coding Extension Chemical Base A Long extension colored Dark Blue Adenine B Long Extension colored Green Guanine Short extension colored Green Cytosine D Short extension colored Dark Blue Uracil E Short extension colored Light Blue Thymine Light Blue For the four cells, four templates are required with nine chemical bases in sequence from one to nine as follows:

TABLE OF TEMPLATES (Four Required) Stomach Pancreas Pituitary Bone For the transfer RNA, twelve game pieces are required with a. sequential order of three bases in each piece as follows: 7

TABLE OFTRANSFER-RNA (12 Required) Order of Bases on Pituitary Bone T RNA Stomach Pancreas Gland Marrow l A A B D 2 C C A B 3 B A C B l A A A B 2 D D A C '4 A A A B l A D D A 3 A B B A There are thirty six nucleotide game pieces required for each of the templates as follows:

TABLE OF NUCLEOTIDES (36 Required) There are 12 amino acid game pieces required for each of the T-RNA game pieces as follows:

TABLE OF AMINO ACIDS (12 Required) Pituitary Stomach Pancreas Gland Bone Marrow Valine Histidine Histidine Phenylalanine Leucine Leucine Phenylalanine Alanine Alanine Valine Arginine Threonine It will be noted that the amino acid unit is related to the sequence of the T-RNA unit as indicated by the instructions or code on the game board.

A playing piece 69 (sometimes herein referred to as a plasma blob) is shown in FIG. 3 and an irregularly shaped base member 70 and an upstanding pin member 71 which is sized for reception in the opening 31 of an amino acid member 29(a-c). Playing the Game One or more dice or a spinner (not shown) is used to provide a chance number of one to six for movement of the playing pieces. Each player selects a cell and a correspondingbody element. The player starts with a template 11 in his respective segmental area designated Nucleus-DNA template and a playing piece located at the start position designated for each player on his respective body element. Two or more players are required. The players take a turn in sequence in rolling the die, moving their playing piece and performing the instruction on the space occupied by the moved playing piece.

The play starts from the start area St designated for each player on the selected body element and move ment of the playing piece is made along each course on the solid spots toward the heart 50 and lungs 51. The travel from the lungs 51 is along theopen circles to the intestines 61. At any one of five playingspaces marked as DIFFUSION spots L in the intestine area, an appropriate or desired amino acid game piece can be selected and attached to the playing piece.

In the play of the game, whenever two playing pieces occupy the same space, the piece having more amino acid game pieces loses all of its amino acid game pieces to the playing piece in the same space having the fewer number of amino acids. When a playing piece travels from the intestinal area and completes a return to its body element, it can land on any one of the three playing spaces K identified as diffusion spots. At a diffusion spot K in the body element, an amino acid game piece can be removed from the playing piece and placed on a course block 41b of the cell. Any amino acid game pieces collected by the playing piece but not necessary to the cell are returned to the game supply. As the playing piece moves along the courses, the

player will be instructed to acquire nucleotides and these are selected to match the template model for the particular cell. The correct sequence of nine nucleotides provides the messenger RNA for travel to the Ribosome. Similarly, the player will be instructed by playing areas along the courses to select transfer RNAs, and the player should select those T-RNA units which match the template of the cell. The T-RNA blocks and amino acids are coded by indicia for correct coupling to one another. While I have shown printing on the units for coding, the amino acids can have any type of identification interlock desired. For example, US. Pat. No. 3,296,714 shows a shaped tongue and group type of interlock. Also, it is not necessary to have a separate template for the cell as the template can be printed or otherwise permanently made on the board in the nucleus space. While I have not shown this, the sugar elements can be different colors to distinguish the Ribose sugars of the RNA groupings from the deoxyribose sugars of the DNA template.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for illustration of a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to be limiting to the scope of the invention.

. What is claimed is:

l. A game apparatus for learning protein synthesis comprisingf I a game board having an indicia representation, in part, of a body circulatory system including the body components of a heart, lungs, liver, and intestines, and the blood flow path of arteries and veins where the said blood flow path of said arteries and veins provide a continuous main course interconnecting said body components of heart, lungs, liver, and intestines;

said game board further having at least two other body components represented as indicia thereon, each of said other body components having a representation of an inlet blood flow course connecting to the blood flow path of the main artery course and of an outlet blood flow course connecting to the blood flow path of the main vein course;

means for defining representation of a DNA member for each of said other body components relative to said game board where each such DNA member is defined by extensions having lengths and being color-coded to represent sequentially arranged chemical bases;

games pieces for said game board including elongated transfer RNA members each having a plurality of extensions along its length, said extensions having lengths and being color coded to represent chemical bases, each elongated RNA member comprising a sequential sub-group of the chemical bases of an elongated DNA member, whereby a duplicate of said DNA member may be constructed from a plurality of an said elongated RNA members;

elongated amino acid members;

first means for releasably coupling said amino acid members to said transfer RNA member;

nucleotide members, each having an extension having a length and color code to represent a chemical base, each member being complementary to a chemical base extension of said DNA members;

second means for releasably coupling said nucleotide members to one another permitting the formation of sequentially arranged bases representative of messenger RNA groups complementary to DNA members, represented by said means for defining representations of a DNA member;

means for releasably interconnecting said amino acid members to one another to symbolize a peptide bond; said game board further having for each of said represented body components, cell representation indicia including a first course having spaced playing areas for sequential movement of game pieces representative of a messenger RNA group, and a second course having spaced playing areas for sequential movement of game pieces representative of bound transfer RNA members and amino acid members, said first and second courses terminating at indicia for a common playing area; and

playing pieces for moving along said continuous, said inlet vein and said outlet vein courses, each of said courses having spaced playing areas, each of said playing areas having indicia for instructions thereon relating to selection of game pieces for said first and second courses, or movement of playing pieces and game pieces.

2. The game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and further including on said playing pieces a base member and an-upstanding pin, said amino acid members having matching openings for said pin.

3. The game apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said game board has playing area indicia in said other body components for instructing the transfer of amino acid members to said second course.

4. The game apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said second course has separate playing area indicia for locating amino acid members and transfer RNA members prior to a movement connecting said amino acid members and transfer RNA members to one another on said second course.

5. The game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second releasable coupling means include magnet means.

6. The game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said indicia for said blood flow path of the arteries extends from the lungs through the heart to the intestine, and the blood flow path of the veins extends from the intestines through the heart to the lungs, the playing areas in the intestines having indicia providing instructions to place amino acid members into play on the continuous main course of the game board, said representation of said other body components having playing areas with indicia providing instructions to place amino acid members into play on the second course of the game board.

7. The game apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said playing areas having indicia providing instructions to select transfer RNA members for said second course, nucleotide members for said first course, said playing areas having indicia providing intructions to utilize said releasable interconnecting means for said peptide bonds.

8. The game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said playing areas for said first and second courses of each of said other body components are approximately the same in number.

9. The game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said game board has at least four of saidother body components represented thereon,

13 14 a first pair of said other body components having rated by approximately the same number of playing inlet blood flow courses connected to a first comspaces from the arterial opening to said heart. mon point on said arterial blood flow course, 10. The game apparatus as claimed in claim 9 a second pair of said other body components having wherein said main vein course connects to the outlet inlet blood flow courses connected to a second blood flow course of each of said other body compocommon point on said arterial blood flow course, nents. said first and second common points being sepa-

Claims

1. A game apparatus for learning protein synthesis comprising: a game board having an indicia representation, in part, of a body circulatory system including the body components of a heart, lungs, liver, and intestines, and the blood flow path of arteries and veins where the said blood flow path of said arteries and veins provide a continuous main course interconnecting said body components of heart, lungs, liver, and intestines; said game board further having at least two other body components represented as indicia thereon, each of said other body components having a representation of an inlet blood flow course connecting to the blood flow path of the main artery course and of an outlet blood flow course connecting to the blood flow path of the main vein course; means for defining representation of a DNA member for each of said other body components relative to said game board where each such DNA member is defined by extensions having lengths and being color-coded to represent sequentially arranged chemical bases; games pieces for said game board including elongated transfer RNA members each having a plurality of extensions along its length, said extensions having lengths and being color coded to represent chemical bases, each elongated RNA member comprising a sequential sub-group of the chemical bases of an elongated DNA member, whereby a duplicate of said DNA member may be constructed from a plurality of an said elongated RNA members; elongated amino acid members; first means for releasably coupling said amino acid members to said transfer RNA member; nucleotide members, each having an extension having a length and color code to represent a chemical base, each member being complementary to a chemical base extension of said DNA members; second means for releasably coupling said nucleotide members to one another permitting the formation of sequentially arranged bases representative of messenger RNA groups complementary to DNA members, represented by said means for defining representations of a DNA member; means for releasably interconnecting said amino acid members to one another to symbolize a peptide bond; said game board further having for each of said represented body components, cell representation indicia including a first course having spaced playing areas for sequential movement of game pieces representative of a messenger RNA group, and a second course having spaced playing areas for sequential movement of game pieces representative of bound transfer RNA members and amino acid members, said first and second courses terminating at indicia for a common playing area; and playing pieces for moving along said continuous, said inlet vein and said outlet vein courses, each of said courses having spaced playing areas, each of said playing areas having indicia for instructions thereon relating to selection of game pieces for said first and second courses, or movement of playing pieces and game pieces.

2. The game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and further including on said playing pieces a base member and an upstanding pin, said amino acid members having matching openings for said pin.

9. The game apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said game board has at least four of said other body components represented thereon, a first pair of said other body components having inlet blood flow courses connected to a first common point on said arterial blood flow course, a second pair of said other body components having inlet blood flow courses connected to a second common point on said arterial blood flow course, said first and second common points being separated by approximately the same number of playing spaces from the arterial opening to said heart.

10. The game apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said main vein course connects to the outlet blood flow course of each of said other body components.