By: Zack ErnstRagged leaves1 (Rg1), ZLE, 1-13-05

Mutation:

1) The act or process of making a heritable change in the genetic material (DNA).

Phenotype:

2) The appearance of an individual. Phenotypes can be normal (wild-type) or mutant. A mutant individual can have parents that are genetic carriers, but show a normal phenotype.

Mutant phenotypes are caused by a change in a gene or a chromosome.

The mutation in the ragged1 gene causes the leaves to have rough and ragged edges.

Rg1 phenotype:

1) The Rg1 mutation can be lethal

2) The Rg1 gene has not been cloned

3) Rg1 has a dominant mode of inheritance.

4) The gene is on chromosome three

DateHeight

in mmAverage Height

Average Leaf Width

9/10/04 35, 80, 80, 78, 74, 35, 50, 88, 40, 43, 0, 0,

49, 70, 52, 68

60 11

9/24/04 290, 274, 370, 330, 349, 299, 343, 299, 186, 222, 0, 0, 294,

313, 239, 329

295 12

10/1/04 474, 383, 563, 495, 397, 425, 399, 443, 226, 281, 0, 0, 491,

345, 399, 450

361 14

GROWTH CHART

16 SEEDLINGS FROM Rg1 FAMILY

SEEDLINGS DO NOT YETSHOW THE Rg1 MUTANT PHENOTYPE

Original Reference for the ragged leaves1 mutation

Authors: R.A. Brink & P.H. Senn

In: Journal of Heredity

Volume: 22

Pages: 155-161

Year: 1931

Class Activity:Effects of Mutations on Peanut Gathering & Eating Ability

One activity we did in class was to divide into small groups, each getting a different mutation.

The mutant groups then had to do a series of steps ending with finally eating the peanuts.

The mutant groups were:

Group 1 had plastic knives taped to fingers

Group 2 had their hands taped into fists so they could not use their fingers

Group 3 had their hands taped together

Group 4 had their arms taped to their sides

Knife hands

Hands taped into fists

Hands taped together

Arms taped to sides

Getting the peanuts from the table.

Class Activity:Effects of Mutations on Peanut Gathering & Eating Ability

Results:

1. Each group finished within five minutes.

2. Each group found ways to accomplish the tasks in spite of their mutations.

3. This meant that each group could survive with their mutation.

Class Activity:Effects of Mutations on Peanut Gathering & Eating Ability

What we discovered:

How difficult it can be to live with a mutation.

That species must learn to adapt to their mutations.

That adaptation is crucial to the survival of the species.

Thanks to – • Mrs. Crow

• Dr. Hank Bass

• Dr. Brian Ring

• Ms. Debbie Figueroa

The End