Name___________________________________________________ Hour/Block __________
Mutation Activity
This activity illustrates how the order of nucleotides in DNA determines the order of amino acids in proteins. It
reinforces the concept that any change in the order of nucleotides can change the order of amino acids in proteins.
Answer each of the following questions in the space provided.
The following is the base sequence on one strand of a DNA molecule (the side to be copied). For our purposes, the
strand not copied has been left out.
Original DNA Strand = T T A C A A T A G A C G G T A A A C T
You will use this original strand of DNA to complete numbers 1 – 5.
1. Write the mRNA sequence that would be made from the original strand of DNA, circle the mRNA
codons, and write the amino acid sequence.
Original DNA Strand = T T A C A A T A G A C G G T A A A C T
mRNA Strand = _____________________________________________________________________
Amino Acid Sequence = _______________________________________________________________
2. Change the 7th nucleotide in the original DNA strand from a T to a C.
Original DNA Strand = T T A C A A T A G A C G G T A A A C T
Mutated DNA Strand = _______________________________________________________________
mRNA Strand = _____________________________________________________________________
Amino Acid Sequence = _______________________________________________________________
Specific Mutation Type = _____________________________________________________________
3. Add a G to the original DNA strand after the 4th nucleotide (not replacing anything).
Original DNA Strand = T T A C A A T A G A C G G T A A A C T
Mutated DNA Strand = _______________________________________________________________
mRNA Strand = _____________________________________________________________________
Amino Acid Sequence = _______________________________________________________________
Specific Mutation Type = _____________________________________________________________
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4. Change the 6th nucleotide in the original DNA strand from an A to a T.
Original DNA Strand = T T A C A A T A G A C G G T A A A C T
Mutated DNA Strand = _______________________________________________________________
mRNA Strand = _____________________________________________________________________
Amino Acid Sequence = _______________________________________________________________
Specific Mutation Type = _____________________________________________________________
5. Change the 12th nucleotide in the original DNA strand from a G to a C.
Original DNA Strand = T T A C A A T A G A C G G T A A A C T
Mutated DNA Strand = _______________________________________________________________
mRNA Strand = _____________________________________________________________________
Amino Acid Sequence = _______________________________________________________________
Specific Mutation Type = _____________________________________________________________
6. Red blood cells have a protein called hemoglobin that carries oxygen. A mutation to the hemoglobin gene
causes the disease sickle cell anemia. Below is the portion of the hemoglobin gene where the mutation is
found. For each strand of DNA, write the mRNA sequence, circle the mRNA codons, and write the amino
acid sequence.
Normal hemoglobin DNA:
T A C C A C C T G G A C T G A G G A C T C C T C
mRNA Strand = ______________________________________________________________________
Amino Acid Sequence = _______________________________________________________________
Mutated hemoglobin DNA (resulting in sickle cell):
T A C C A C C T G G A C T G A G G A C A C C T C
mRNA Strand = ______________________________________________________________________
Amino Acid Sequence = _______________________________________________________________
What is the difference between the normal hemoglobin protein and the sickle cell hemoglobin protein?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
What specific kind of mutation causes sickle cell anemia? ____________________________
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Name___KEY________________________________________________ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Mutation Activity
This activity illustrates how the order of nucleotides in DNA determines the order of amino acids in proteins. It
reinforces the concept that any change in the order of nucleotides can change the order of amino acids in proteins.
Answer each of the following questions in the space provided.
The following is the base sequence on one strand of a DNA molecule (the side to be copied). For our purposes, the
strand not copied has been left out.
Original DNA Strand = T T A C A A T A G A C G G T A A A C T
You will use this original strand of DNA to complete numbers 1 – 5.
1. Write the mRNA sequence that would be made from the original strand of DNA, circle the mRNA
codons, and write the amino acid sequence.
Original DNA Strand = T T A C A A T A G A C G G T A A A C T
mRNA Strand = ___ A A U G U U A U C U G C C A U U U G A ____
Amino Acid Sequence = ____ met- leu - ser - ala - ile
2. Change the 7th nucleotide in the original DNA strand from a T to a C.
Original DNA Strand = T T A C A A T A G A C G G T A A A C T
Mutated DNA Strand = _T T A C A A C A G A C G G T A A A C T __
mRNA Strand = __ A A U G U U G U C U G C C A U U U G A
Amino Acid Sequence = _ met- leu ser ala ile
Specific Mutation Type = _____silent mutation_____________________
3. Add a G to the original DNA strand after the 4th nucleotide (not replacing anything).
Original DNA Strand = T T A C A A T A G A C G G T A A A C T
Mutated DNA Strand = T T A C G A A T A G A C G G T A A A C T _
mRNA Strand = ______A A U G C U U A U C U G C C A U U U G A_
Amino Acid Sequence= met- leu ile cys his leu
Specific Mutation Type= ___frame shift mutation ____
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4. Change the 6th nucleotide in the original DNA strand from an A to a T.
Original DNA Strand = T T A C A A T A G A C G G T A A A C T
Mutated DNA Strand = T T A C A T T A G A C G G T A A A C T ______
mRNA Strand = ______ A A U G U A A T C U G C C A U U U G A ___
Amino Acid Sequence = __met- (stop)
Specific Mutation Type = __nonsense mutation__________________________
5. Change the 12th nucleotide in the original DNA strand from a G to a C.
Original DNA Strand = T T A C A A T A G A C G G T A A A C T
Mutated DNA Strand = T T A C A A T A G A C C G T A A A C T
mRNA Strand = _____ A A U G U U A U C U G G C A U U U G A __
Amino Acid Sequence = ____met leu ser gly ile
Specific Mutation Type = _____missense mutation_______________________________
6. Red blood cells have a protein called hemoglobin that carries oxygen. A mutation to the hemoglobin gene
causes the disease sickle cell anemia. Below is the portion of the hemoglobin gene where the mutation is
found. For each strand of DNA, write the mRNA sequence, circle the mRNA codons, and write the amino
acid sequence.
Normal hemoglobin DNA:
T A C C A C C T G G A C T G A G G A C T C C T C
mRNA Strand = _A U G G U G G A C C U G A C U C C U G A G G A G___
Amino Acid Sequence = met val asp leu thr pro glu glu
Mutated hemoglobin DNA (resulting in sickle cell):
T A C C A C C T G G A C T G A G G A C A C C T C
mRNA Strand = _A U G G U G G A C C U G A C U C C U G U G G A G______
Amino Acid Sequence = _met val__asp___leu thr pro val glu
What is the difference between the normal hemoglobin protein and the sickle cell hemoglobin protein?
____1 protein has been coded wrong, 1 T has been changed to an A_______
What specific kind of mutation causes sickle cell anemia? _ missense mutation ___
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