This document contains a worksheet with questions about an episode of Nova Science Now about RNA interference (RNAi). The questions cover topics like how RNA and ribosomes help turn genetic code into living creatures, how adding more of a purple gene turned a petunia color, how RNAi works to turn off genes, how doctors used RNAi to attempt to treat a woman's macular degeneration, and how RNAi could potentially be used for more than just curing diseases.

1. Name _________________________________ Date _________________ Per ________
Nova Science Now:
RNAi
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3210/02.html
1. What turns you from a chemical code to living creature?
2. In the cell analogy, what is the
Nucleus _________________________
RNA ____________________________
Ribosomes _______________________
Proteins _________________________
3. After adding more purple gene to a petunia, what color did it turn?
4. What does the “cop” do in the cell?
5. Why did the flowers destroy the recipe for purple in the cell?
6. What does RNAi stand for?
7. Why specifically did Marty have macular degeneration (What did the mutation
cause?)
8. What did the doctors attempt to turn off her disease?
9. What questions remain about RNAi
10. Besides curing diseases, what else can the discovery of RNAi be used for?