Heimerman Science Center - Newman is in its DNA

Students of Newman University have voiced that the Heimerman Science Center is in great need of a replacement. On Friday, June 10, 2016, those voices were answered with the historic groundbreaking of the new Bishop Gerber Science Center, a state-of-the-art science building.

Once the construction of the Bishop Gerber Science Center is complete, the Heimerman Science Center will be demolished – but not forgotten. While there are many things about the Heimerman Science Center that current students, faculty, and alumni will remember, it is doubtful that anyone will forget about the art that covers the interior walls of the building.

One piece of art is particularly interesting due to its cryptic and scientifically appropriate subject. The spiral staircase joining the 1st and 2nd floor is decorated with a mural that begins with the top step and follows downward until the last step in the staircase.

The mural illustrates different amino acids using a three-letter code (codons) that is represented by the letters A, T, C, and G. Our bodies’ DNA is written using this code. To further simplify the codons, scientists have created shorthand code that gives each amino acid its own letter, corresponding to letters of the alphabet. For example, the amino acid Asparagine is represented using the codon letters “AAC” and simplified as “N.”

At the top of the staircase the first codon is shown as “AAT” – or “N” (Asparagine). The next codon shown is “GAA” – or “E” (Glutamine). The DNA sequence continues down the stairwell until the decrypted codons spell “NEWMAN.”

The table below references the amino acids in relation to its codon and letter abbreviation.

Codon	Full Name	Abbreviation (3 Letter)	Abbreviation (1 Letter)
TTT	Phenylalanine	Phe	F
TTC	Phenylalanine	Phe	F
TTA	Leucine	Leu	L
TTG	Leucine	Leu	L
TCT	Serine	Ser	S
TCC	Serine	Ser	S
TCA	Serine	Ser	S
TCG	Serine	Ser	S
TAT	Tyrosine	Tyr	Y
TAC	Tyrosine	Tyr	Y
TAA	Termination (ochre)	Ter	X
TAG	Termination (amber)	Ter	X
TGT	Cysteine	Cys	C
TGC	Cysteine	Cys	C
TGA	Termination (opal or umber)	Ter	X
TGG	Tryptophan	Trp	W
CTT	Leucine	Leu	L
CTC	Leucine	Leu	L
CTA	Leucine	Leu	L
CTG	Leucine	Leu	L
CCT	Proline	Pro	P
CCC	Proline	Pro	P
CCA	Proline	Pro	P
CCG	Proline	Pro	P
CAT	Histidine	His	H
CAC	Histidine	His	H
CAA	Glutamine	Gln	Q
CAG	Glutamine	Gln	Q
CGT	Arginine	Arg	R
CGC	Arginine	Arg	R
CGA	Arginine	Arg	R
CGG	Arginine	Arg	R
ATT	Isoleucine	Ile	I
ATC	Isoleucine	Ile	I
ATA	Isoleucine	Ile	I
ATG	Methionine	Met	M
ACT	Threonine	Thr	T
ACC	Threonine	Thr	T
ACA	Threonine	Thr	T
ACG	Threonine	Thr	T
AAT	Asparagine	Asn	N
AAC	Asparagine	Asn	N
AAA	Lysine	Lys	K
AAG	Lysine	Lys	K
AGT	Serine	Ser	S
AGC	Serine	Ser	S
AGA	Arginine	Arg	R
AGG	Arginine	Arg	R
GTT	Valine	Val	V
GTC	Valine	Val	V
GTA	Valine	Val	V
GTG	Valine	Val	V
GCT	Alanine	Ala	A
GCC	Alanine	Ala	A
GCA	Alanine	Ala	A
GCG	Alanine	Ala	A
GAT	Aspartate	Asp	D
GAC	Aspartate	Asp	D
GAA	Glutamate	Glu	E
GAG	Glutamate	Glu	E
GGT	Glycine	Gly	G
GGC	Glycine	Gly	G
GGA	Glycine	Gly	G
GGG	Glycine	Gly	G
n/a	Aspartate or Asparagine	n/a	B
n/a	Glutamate or Glutamine	n/a	Z

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