Mutation Consequences

DNA is genetic material made of nucleotides. How does a change in one nucleotide affect the way the message is transcribed to RNA and translated to protein?

Mutations are changes in DNA sequence. A point mutation is a change in a single base pair of a gene. Point mutations involve only 1 nitrogen base change of the 3 nitrogen bases in a codon.

Perform this activity and witness the change a single point mutation in the DNA can have on a resulting protein. Dice will be used to determine the random change that will occur in the specified mutation location.

Procedure:

  1. Transcribe the DNA into mRNA.
  2. Translate the mRNA into its corresponding amino acid (use codon chart).
  3. Roll the dice and follow the instructions below:

Number Rolled / Corresponding Action
1 / Substitute nucleotide 4 with an A
2 / Substitute nucleotide 4 with a C
3 / Substitute nucleotide 4 with a G
4 / Substitute nucleotide 4 with a T
5 / Delete nucleotide 4
6 / Insert a nucleotide immediately after nucleotide 4 (nucleotides 5 -> 21 get moved down 1 space).
Toss the dice again until you roll a 1,2,3, or 4 to determine which nucleotide you will insert.
  1. Write the complete DNA sequence with one mutation in nucleotide 4.
  2. Transcribe the mutated DNA into mRNA.
  3. Translate the amino acid sequence from the mRNA.
  4. Circle any differences from the original protein produced.
  5. Answer the Analysis Questions.

Mutation Consequences

DNA is genetic material made of nucleotides. How does a change in one nucleotide affect the way the message is transcribed to RNA and translated to protein?

Mutations are changes in DNA sequence. A point mutation is a change in a single base pair of a gene. Point mutations involve only 1 nitrogen base change of the 3 nitrogen bases in a codon.

Perform this activity and witness the change a single point mutation in the DNA can have on a resulting protein. Dice will be used to determine the random change that will occur in the specified mutation location.

Procedure:

  1. Transcribe the DNA into mRNA.
  2. Translate the mRNA into its corresponding amino acid (use codon chart).
  3. Roll the dice and follow the instructions below:

Number Rolled / Corresponding Action
1 / Substitute nucleotide 4 with an A
2 / Substitute nucleotide 4 with a C
3 / Substitute nucleotide 4 with a G
4 / Substitute nucleotide 4 with a T
5 / Delete nucleotide 4
6 / Insert a nucleotide immediately after nucleotide 4 (nucleotides 5 -> 21 get moved down 1 space).
Toss the dice again until you roll a 1,2,3, or 4 to determine which nucleotide you will insert.
  1. Write the complete DNA sequence with one mutation in nucleotide 4.
  2. Transcribe the mutated DNA into mRNA.
  3. Translate the amino acid sequence from the mRNA.
  4. Circle any differences from the original protein produced.
  5. Answer the Analysis Questions.

Mutation Consequences Worksheet

Nucleotide / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21
DNA / T / A / C / G / T / G / T / T / A / G / T / C / T / A / A / G / A / A / A / C / T
mRNA
Amino Acid Sequence

Number Rolled ______

Mutated DNA
mRNA
Amino Acid Sequence

Analysis Questions:

  1. Did this mutation cause a change in the Amino Acid sequence produced? Explain why or why not.
  1. Is it possible to have a mutation in nucleotide 4 that would produce the same amino acid?
  1. Could any mutations have occurred in nucleotide 6 that would produce the same amino acid as was produced from the original DNA strand? Explain why or why not.

Mutation Consequences Worksheet

Nucleotide / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21
DNA / T / A / C / G / T / G / T / T / A / G / T / C / T / A / A / G / A / A / A / C / T
mRNA
Amino Acid Sequence

Number Rolled ______

Mutated DNA
mRNA
Amino Acid Sequence

Analysis Questions:

  1. Did this mutation cause a change in the Amino Acid sequence produced? Explain why or why not.
  1. Is it possible to have a mutation in nucleotide 4 that would produce the same amino acid?
  1. Could any mutations have occurred in nucleotide 6 that would produce the same amino acid as was produced from the original DNA strand? Explain why or why not.