MONSTROUS MUTATIONS

Genetics Lab Activity

TYPES OF MUTATIONS REVIEWSubstitution

A substitution is a mutation that exchanges one base for

another (i.e., a change in a single “chemical letter” such as

switching an A to a G). Such a substitution could: • Change a codon to one that encodes a different amino acid and

cause a small change in the protein produced. For example, sickle cell anemia is caused by a substitution in the beta-hemoglobin gene, which alters a single amino acid in the protein produced.

• Change a codon to one that encodes the same amino acid and causes no change in the protein produced. These are called silent mutations.

• Change an amino-acid-coding codon to a single “stop” codon and cause an incomplete protein. This can have serious effects since the incomplete protein probably won’t function.

TYPES OF MUTATIONS REVIEWInsertion

Insertions are mutations in which extra base pairs are inserted into a new place in

the DNA.

Deletion

Deletions are mutations in which a section of DNA is lost, or deleted.

Frame shift

Since protein-coding DNA is divided into codons three bases long, insertions and

deletions can alter a gene so that its message is no longer correctly parsed. These

changes are called frame shifts.

For example, consider the sentence, “The fat cat sat.” Each word represents a

codon. If we delete the first letter and parse the sentence in the same way, it

doesn’t make sense.

In frame shifts, a similar error occurs at the DNA level, causing the codons to be

parsed incorrectly. This usually generates proteins that are as useless as “hef atc

ats at” is uninformative

HOW TO BECOME A MONSTER!!!

You are a group of Skittle loving monsters! Unfortunately, there has been

some toxic waste dumped in your water source that has caused a lot of

strange mutations within your population!

You will work in groups of 3. Each “monster” in your group will share your

genetic mutation. One person from your group will draw a letter to determine

what mutation your group will have. This letter will also tell you where your

“home station” is. This is where your storage cup will be placed.

Two people in your group will have the mutation, the third will be responsible

for prepping the monsters and guiding them if they get is a particularly sticky

situation!!!

MUTATIONS

Letter Drawn Characteristic Produced by Mutation

ALab station 1

Long fingernails (produced by plastic spoons taped to fingers with tape)

BLab station 2

No fingers (produced by taping each hand closed)

CLab Station 3

Lack of peripheral vision (produced by putting on goggles taped on the sides to prevent viewing from the side)

DLab Station 4

Hands fused together in front of body (produced by placing hands together in front of body and taping them together)

ELab Station 5

Super speed (this group will get a minute head start and does not have to wait 2 minutes at their home station after they have stored their food)

FLab Station 6

No arms (produced by taping the arms down to the side of the body with tape)

GLab Station 7

Arms fused together behind the back at the wrists (produced by placing arms behind the back and taping tightly at the wrists)

HFume Hood by the

Door

Sticky Hand (One hand has tape wrapped around it sticky side up)

IFume Hood by the

Shower

No mutation (Control Group)

INSTRUCTIONS:1) Prep 2 monsters according to the mutation instructions.

2) You will start at your designated home station. I will start the timer.

3) There will be two places to get food, my front lab desk and my filing

cabinets. You will need to go to ONE location to retrieve 10 skittles and

take them to your designated storage area.

4) Once you have dropped off your food at your designated location, return

to your home station and wait 2 minutes (your extra person will be

responsible for keeping track of the time).

5) After 2 minutes have passed, retrieve your food and bring it back to you

home station. You will then need to consume all 10 of your skittles (5 per

monster).

6) Once you have consumed your skittles, tell me and I will record your time

on the board.

CONCLUSION QUESTIONS

Answer the following questions in your lab

notebook, ask for a stamp when you are done:1) How did your mutation effect your ability to collect

food?2) Looking at your classmates times, were there any

mutations that seemed to be advantageous to those monsters?

3) Does a mutation have to act on the genotype of phenotype of an organism in order to effect the abilities of that organism?

4) Explain how these mutations could effect the population of monsters as a whole if they are passed down over multiple generations.