How to apply genetic codes

Predicting the
sequence of
amino acids
from a
sequence of
codons in RNA
 DNA has the genetic code
• The code is for the sequence of amino
acids
• The initial RNA transcript is copied from
DNA.
• This transcript is made of exons and
introns
 EXONS and INTRONS
• Exons: sequences of nucleotides that
carry useful information for protein
synthesis
• Introns: Sequences of nucleotides that do
not carrry useful information
• Before leaving the nucleus; introns are
removed and exons are spliced together
• This final transcript is mRNA
 Mutations
• May or may not affect the
expression of the gene or the
sequence of amino acids in
the encoded protein
• Permanent changes in the
sequence of nitrogenous
bases
• Occurs when base pairs are
matched incorrectly (A with C
or G with T)
• Can (it is rare) improve the
product
 Somatic cells
• Somatic cells make
up the body “soma”-
compose organisms
• Blood, bone, organs,
connective tissues
• Mutations that occur
in somatic cells are
often not detected
because they cannot
be passed on to
offspring
• May give rise to
cancer
 Genetic disease
• Mutations in germ
cells
• Create functionally
different proteins
• Tay-Sachs disease
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Sickle cell anemia
• Duchenne Muscular
dystrophy
 More about mutations
• SAD- is often treated with
"light therapy," where a SAD
patient spends time each
morning before bright lights in
an effort to trick the brain into
believing that the days are not
so short or dark.
• A new study indicates that
SAD may be linked to a
genetic mutation in the eye
that makes a SAD patient less
sensitive to light.
• Journal article