This activity will use the Human β-hemoglobin gene, which is mutated in sickle cell anemia, with the following sequences of the first thirty (30) nucleotides: TAC CAC GTG GAC TGA GGA CAC CTC TTC AGA... 1. First transcribe the DNA sequence into the mRNA sequence. 2. Refer to the genetic code to write down the amino acid sequence that these 30 nucleotides encode beginning with the first nucleotide. 3. Generate a random number (1-30) by drawing lots in a bowl. Then locate the DNA nucleotide to "mutate" using the number drawn as the position along the gene.
Procedure
This activity will use the Human β-hemoglobin gene, which is mutated in sickle cell anemia, with the following sequences of the first thirty (30) nucleotides: TAC CAC GTG GAC TGA GGA CAC CTC TTC AGA...
1. First transcribe the DNA sequence into the mRNA sequence.
2. Refer to the genetic code to write down the amino acid sequence that these 30 nucleotides encode beginning with the first
3. Generate a random number (1-30) by drawing lots in a bowl. Then locate the DNA nucleotide to "mutate" using the number drawn as the position along the gene.
4. "Roll" the tetrahedron "mutator" dice (see direction below for making the tetrahedron "mutator" dice). Note the letter on the side that is flat on the table. That is the nucleotide that will replace the nucleotide in the DNA at the position decided in the previous step.
5. Write the mutant nucleotide sequence in the row for Mutation 1, then analyze mutation.
a. If it is the same nucleotide, write same nucleotide under the Results column.
b. If it is a different nucleotide, write whether it is transition or transversion mutation. Then look up what is encoded by the new triplet code.
c. If it is the same amino acid, write silent (synonymous) mutation under the Results column
d. If it is a different amino acid write the new amino acid in the row for amino acid and write missense (nonsynonymous) mutation under the Results column.
e. If the new triplet code encodes a stop codon, write STOP in the row for amino acid and write nonsense mutation under the Results column.
f. If the new triplet code changes the start codon at the beginning of the sequence into any other amino acid or STOP codon, write the amino acid or STOP in the row for amino acid and write stop under the Results column, since no protein will be made.
6. Repeat from step 3 to 5. Be sure to mutate the original DNA sequence.
7. Depending upon how long it takes, perform 15 "mutations" and tally the results for the whole class.
Step by step
Solved in 3 steps
