Activity 2a:

Gene Mutations Handout

A mutation is a change that occurs in the DNA sequence of a gene. A change in the DNA sequence
may result in a major change in the amino acid sequence of the protein for which the DNA codes.
One type of gene mutation is also known as a “point” mutation. This is a change in a single base of
the gene sequence. There are three types of point mutations: substitution, insertion and deletion. In
substitution, one base is changed to another base (ex.: A changed to T) in the DNA sequence. The
resulting change in the amino acid sequence may or may not have an effect on the protein. The second
type of point mutation is insertion. An insertion results in the addition of a base to the DNA sequence
and also a major change in the amino acid sequence of the protein. The third type of point mutation
is deletion. A deletion is the loss of a base in the DNA sequence and results in a major change in the
amino acid sequence of the protein. Insertion and deletion are also known as “Frameshift Mutations”.
This activity is designed to illustrate the effect of these point mutations on a DNA sequence and the
sentence for which it codes.

For each of the examples, determine the sentence of for which this DNA (gene) sequence codes. First
transcribe the DNA into mRNA (in RNA, uracil (U) replaces thymine (T)) and then translate the
mRNA into the words of the sentence by breaking the RNA into the three base codons. Use the Trans
Word chart to determine the word for each codon of the sentence.

The starting DNA sequence is:

DNA TACTGAATAAATGGGTACGTGTTGATT

mRNA ______________________________________

Sentence ___________________________________________________________

Substitution: One base has been changed in the DNA sequence.

DNA TACTGAATAAAAGGGTACGTGTTGATT

mRNA _______________________________________

Sentence ____________________________________________________________

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Activity 2a: Gene Mutations Handout

Insertion: One extra base has been added to the DNA sequence.

DNA TACTGAATAACAAGGGTACGTGTTGATT

mRNA _______________________________________

Sentence ____________________________________________________________

Deletion: One base has been removed from the DNA sequence.

DNA TACTGAATAAATGGTACGTGTTGATT

mRNA _______________________________________

Sentence ____________________________________________________________

Answer the following questions:

1. Which type of mutation has the least effect on the corresponding sentence? Explain.___________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Identify some environmental factors that might result in point mutations. ___________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

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Activity 2a: Gene Mutations Handout

Trans Word Chart

IS
RED GREEN
BLACK
PERIOD PERIOD
BLUE WARM
PERIOD

SUN

FELL AND AQUA

RAYS

MAY
HALF SKY

JUNE
THE

COLD

BROWN HOT OR

YEAR

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