DNA Copying

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) is the code for each living organism. When cells in organisms divide,
the DNA must copy itself so that each new cell has an identical copy of DNA. You will get to be
a protein in charge of copying DNA. Make a complementary strand (a strand with the matching
bases) to the DNA sequence below.

For example, if a sequence of DNA is: T T C G C C G T

the complement would be: A A G C G G C A

Remember, Ts and As match together and Cs and Gs match together.

DNA sequence:
T T G C G G G T T T C G C T T T T T G T C T T C C C G T T C G G G G T T T C T

Your complimentary copy:

Questions:

1. Was it difficult to keep track of the sequence as you were finding the matching bases?



2. Do you think it is difficult for the proteins in your body to copy DNA? Why or why not?



3. What do you think might happen when mistakes are made in copying DNA in cells?



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 DNA Copying Answers
DNA sequence:
T T G C G G G T T T C G C T T T T T G T C T T C C C G T T C G G G G T T T C T

Your complimentary copy:

A A C G C C C A A A G C G A A A A A C A G A A G G G C A A G C C C C A A A G A

Questions:
1. Was it difficult to keep track of the sequence as you were finding the matching
bases? Yes, difficult to copy and think of the opposite base.

2. Do you think it is difficult for the proteins in your body to copy

DNA? Why or why not? Yes, there is so much DNA.

3. What do you think might happen when mistakes are made in

copying DNA in cells? Mistakes in our code, mutations.

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