Assignment task: Below is a (hypothetical) partial sequence of DNA from a virus. This represents a piece of a gene for a protein on the surface of the virus.
C C G T A G C A T G T T A C A A C G C G A A G G C A C
If scientists want to make an mRNA vaccine against this virus, what would the mRNA sequence be for this portion of the gene?
Once the vaccine is made and injected into a person, what is the sequence of amino acids made by the cells of the person injected with the mRNA?
How does the mRNA from the vaccine enter the cells of the person who was vaccinated? Name the structure(s) involved.
Once the mRNA vaccine has entered the cell, how is a protein made from it? Explain the process being sure to name the cell structure(s) involved (review the relevant material from module 1).
Explain what the primary immune response is.
Explain what the secondary immune response is.
How does a vaccine affect the immune response of the person who receives it? How is the speed of the immune response affected?
Can this mRNA vaccine cause a person to become infected with the illness the virus causes (for example, can you get Covid-19 from the Covid vaccine)? Explain.