DNA and protein synthesis, Paper 1- Homework 3 SHB

Q1.
(a) Describe how one amino acid is added to a polypeptide that is being formed at a
ribosome during translation.

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(3)

Table 1 shows:

• mRNA codons and the amino acid coded for by each codon
• the type of bond formed by the R group of some of the amino acids.

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(b) Crystallin is a structural protein found in the human eye. An inherited disease that
leads to blindness is caused by changes in properties of crystallin. The replacement
of the amino acid Arg with the amino acid Gly causes these changes.

Use information in Table 1 to suggest why this amino acid replacement changes the
properties of crystallin.

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(2)

(c) The amino acid replacement of Arg with Gly is caused by a single base substitution
mutation in the DNA. The non-mutant DNA triplet is TCC.

Complete Table 2.

Give:

• the mRNA codon complementary to the non-mutant DNA triplet

• the mutated mRNA codon that could cause the change from Arg to Gly in the
crystallin protein

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 • the DNA triplet complementary to this mutated mRNA codon.

Table 2

mRNA codon for the non-

mutant triplet

Mutated mRNA codon

Mutated DNA triplet

(2)
(Total 7 marks)

Q2.
(a) (i) Why is the genetic code described as being universal?

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(1)

(ii) The genetic code uses four different DNA bases. What is the maximum
number of different DNA triplets that can be made using these four bases?

(1)

Transcription of a gene produces pre-mRNA.

(b) Name the process that removes base sequences from pre-mRNA to form mRNA.

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(1)

(c) The figure below shows part of a pre-mRNA molecule. Geneticists identified two
mutations that can affect this pre-mRNA, as shown in the figure.

Base sequence Base sequence Base sequence

coding removed coding
for amino acids from pre-mRNA for amino acids

Mutation 1, Mutation 2,

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 single base single base
deletion substitution

(i) Mutation 1 leads to the production of a non-functional protein.

Explain why.

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(3)

(ii) What effect might mutation 2 have on the protein produced?

Explain your answer.

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(2)
(Total 8 marks)

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 [8]

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