SME
Grade 9 Science · Problem type
Silent, missense, nonsense or frameshift?
Use this for “The codon GAA changes to GUA. What kind of mutation is it?”
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Which kind of mutation is it?
Tap a card, then tap its group.
Assumptions
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Each card is one change to an mRNA codon, with the amino acid it codes before and after.
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A substitution swaps one base for another; an insertion or deletion adds or removes bases.
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Several codons code the same amino acid, so some substitutions change nothing in the protein.
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Related lessons
Mutations, gene expression and biotechnology
Main lesson
An insertion shifts the reading frame
Use this for “Why does inserting one base change every amino acid after it?”
A deletion shifts the reading frame
Use this for “One base is deleted from a gene. Which codons change, and is there still a stop codon?”
Gel electrophoresis: a piece of DNA cut once
Use this for “A 5,000 bp piece is cut once, and one fragment is 3,000 bp. How long is the other?”
PCR: copies double each cycle
Use this for “Starting from 2 copies, how many copies are there after 10 cycles of PCR?”
Which DNA tool is it?
Use this for “Which technique would make millions of copies of DNA from one hair?”
Genes switched on and off
Use this for “Why does a bacterium make the enzymes for lactose only when lactose is there?”
DNA fingerprinting
Use this for “Which suspect’s DNA matches the evidence?” or “Could this man be the father?”