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Kaitlyn Bendickson

Honors Biology B5

Mrs. Miller

18 December 2016

Unit Exam

Michael Phelps: DNA Phenomenon

Michael Phelps is an extremely successful swimmer who hit the jackpot in body structure.

Though Phelpss success is attributed in part to his personal experiences, the bulk of the reasoning behind

his success is his natural body structure created by his unique DNA. A large benefit Phelps naturally

possesses is found in his long arms and legs. His arms and legs allow him to move faster and farther in

the pool, gliding swiftly past his opponents who did not receive the same special DNA. Phelps did not

purposefully grow his long arms and legs, his DNA naturally gave him these benefits. DNA is what

makes a person different from others, including Michael Phelps, whose DNA codes for every protein his

body makes differently than any other human being.

Genes and DNA, given to humans naturally, as there is no way to choose the specific DNA ones

body contains, are what makes each human body unique. There are millions upon millions of DNA

strands in one human body. These millions of DNA strands all have the same basic structure, but do not

code for the same genes and traits. The class witnessed the truth of this statement when working on the

Dog DNA activity. Each group was given the same possibilities of DNA sequences, but were all placed in

a different order. In the end, no dogs DNA was the same. This is the same for humans, Michael Phelps

included. As there are millions of strands, there are millions of chances for a DNA strand to be unique.

Michael Phelpss DNA codes for long arms and legs. He did not choose this DNA, but the DNA of his

parents combined to create his. Another humans DNA might code for short arms and legs; this is only

because of the different genes coded for by DNA. As we learned when working through a protein

synthesis interactive, these genes not only code for physical appearance, but also code for the proteins

that give the human body the ability to function properly. The proteins are eventually determined by the
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DNA, so the proteins each human produces are unique from other humans. Our class, when conducting

an amino acid chain lab, realized that there are many amino acid sequences that can be produced. Each

group was given the same amino acids, but they were placed in completely different orders.

Consequently, each amino acid chain produced a different protein. Amino acid sequences are determined

by the original DNA sequence, then each sequence produces different proteins. Michael Phelps produces

different proteins than any other human being, as his DNA strands are also different than any other

humans.

Michael Phelps DNA strands are unique, as they have different base sequences than other

humans. There are four nitrogenous bases involved in DNA: adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine.

Though they are restricted by their base pairs, there are millions of sequences that can be produced. The

order of each humans sequences are unique. From DNA is produced mRNA, which is comprised of the

bases adenine, uracil, cytosine, and guanine, through a process called transcription in protein synthesis.

The DNA template strand is translated into a complementary mRNA strand by RNA polymerase. The

mRNA strand then moves out of the nucleus and into the cytoplasm, where it will enter rRNA, the

ribosome. The mRNA strand is translated into a tRNA strand using codons, a set of 3 bases, and tRNA

anticodons, complementary sets of 3 bases. Each tRNA anticodon holds an amino acid, determined by the

sequences of mRNA codons. The amino acids fuse together to form a polypeptide, or protein and when

combined with another amino acid chains, forms into what is called its quaternary structure. The proteins

produced in humans are what determine bodily traits and allow body parts to function properly, for

example the immune system and five senses. Michael Phelpss protein gives him long arms and legs and a

natural ability to productively use proteins and nutrients he takes in. His protein production allows him to

develop strong muscle, giving him his amazing swimming abilities. Phelpss DNA determines these

proteins.

Michael Phelps has become an extremely successful swimmer not only because of his personal

experiences, but even more because of his natural body structure. No human possesses the same DNA as

Phelps, which also gives every human different protein production. Phelpss protein production gives him
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his jackpot in body structure and function. All of his success comes down to his DNA, given to him

naturally.