TABLE 3.

Qualitative analysis codebook for the class topic DNA transcription along with percentages (n = 69) of student responses in each code

Code	Description of code (student writes about/a…)	Example student response	Percentage of responsesb
Evolution (EVO)
Central dogma	transcription as part of protein synthesis	“first step in DNA based gene expression”	16%	aOther 42%; Blank 6%
Common ancestor/Universal codons	origin of DNA code	“The original ancestor must have had it […] It became the universal code for all living things.”	36%
Structure and Function (SF)
mRNA/RNA polymerase	the structure of mRNA or function of RNA polymerase	“RNA polymerase enzyme codes base pairs of nucleotides”	9%	Other 40%; Blank 0%
Big picture of transcription	transcription as a stage of overall gene expression	“DNA is double helix and nucleotide bases are linked up in order to be read (5′ to 3′) in order to read each codon to make proteins”	13%
List of molecules participating in transcription	list of transcription molecules	“RNA polymerase synthesizes RNA 5′ to 3′”	38%
Information Flow, Exchange and Storage (IFES)
List of molecules participating in transcription	list of transcription molecules	“RNA polymerase specific proteins and enzymes help the process go on”	12%	Other 38%; Blank 0%
Description of transcription phase(s)	a step or phase of transcription	“Proteins are used to split DNA, then mRNA copies the strand”	30%
Protein synthesis	the connection between transcription and translation	“DNA goes into proteins that give DNA tangible forms, which is caused by DNA transcription”	20%
Pathways of Transformation of Energy and Matter (PTEM)
List of molecules participating in transcription	list of transcription molecules	“DNA, mRNA and proteins are made”	11%	Other 28%; Blank 0%
Phase(s) of transcription	one or more transcription phases	“RNA is being produced from DNA”	20%
Protein synthesis	transcription followed by translation	“A template from DNA is being transcribed into mRNA and mRNA is translated by tRNA into proteins”	41%
Systems (SYS)
List of transcription /translation phases	list of transcription or translation phases	“transcription, elongation, translation, initiation”	26%	Other 33%; Blank 3%
List of transcription /translation molecules	list of transcription or translation molecules	“polymerase I, II, mRNA”	38%

^aThe code “Other” indicates incomplete or irrelevant responses to the specific CC and topic.

^bBoldface text indicates the highest percentage of student responses in each CC.