DNA Mutations Practice Worksheet

DIRECTIONS: Transcribe and translate the original DNA sequence. Then, do the same for each
mutated DNA sequence. Then, determine the consequence, if any, for each mutation, by
circling your choice for each question. You will need a Genetic Code Chart.

Original DNA
sequence: TAC ACC TTG GCG ACG ACT
mRNA transcript: Aug Ugg AAC Cgc Ugc Uga
amino acids: Met Try Asp His Cys Stop

Mutated DNA
sequence #1: TAC ATC TTG GCG ACG ACT
mRNA transcript:
Aug UAG Aac CGC UGC UGA
(Circle any changes)
amino acids: Met Stop Asp HIS CYS STOP
Type of
Point Frameshift
mutation Substitution Insertion or Deletion
 
(Circle one.)
How did the
mutation affect
1 amino 1 amino acid All the amino acids
the amino acid Premature No stop
No change acid added/ changed after the
sequence stop signal signal
changed deleted point of mutation
(protein)?
(Circle one.)

Mutated DNA
sequence #2: TAC GAC CTT GGC GAC GAC
mRNA transcript:
Aug CUG GAA CCG CUG CUG
(Circle any changes)
amino acids: Met Lue Glu Pro Leu Lue
Type of
Point Frameshift
mutation Substitution Insertion or Deletion
 
(Circle one.)
How did the
mutation affect
1 amino 1 amino acid All the amino acids
the amino acid Premature No stop
No change acid added/ changed after the
sequence stop signal signal
changed deleted point of mutation
(protein)?
(Circle one.)
 Mutated DNA
sequence #3: TAC ACC TTA GCG ACG ACT
mRNA transcript:
Aug Ugg Aau Cgc Ugc Uga
(Circle any changes)
amino acids: Met Try Asp His Cys Stop
Type of
Point Frameshift
mutation Substitution Insertion or Deletion
 
(Circle one.)
How did the
mutation affect
1 amino 1 amino acid All the amino acids
the amino acid Premature No stop
No change acid added/ changed after the
sequence stop signal signal
changed deleted point of mutation
(protein)?
(Circle one.)

Mutated DNA
sequence #4: TAC ACC TTG GCG ACT ACT
mRNA transcript:
Aug Ugg Aac Cgc Ugc Ugc
(Circle any changes)
amino acids: Met Try Asp His Stop Stop
Type of
Point Frameshift
mutation Substitution Insertion or Deletion
 
(Circle one.)
How did the
mutation affect
1 amino 1 amino acid All the amino acids
the amino acid Premature No stop
No change acid added/ changed after the
sequence stop signal signal
changed deleted point of mutation
(protein)?
(Circle one.)

Mutated DNA
sequence #5: TAC ACC TTG GGA CGA ACT
mRNA transcript:
Aug Ugg Aac Cuz Gcu Ugc
(Circle any changes)
amino acids: Met Try Asp His Ala Stop
Type of
Point Frameshift
mutation Substitution Insertion or Deletion
 
(Circle one.)
How did the
mutation affect
1 amino 1 amino acid All the amino acids
the amino acid Premature No stop
No change acid added/ changed after the
sequence stop signal signal
changed deleted point of mutation
(protein)?
(Circle one.)
CONCLUSIONS
1. Which type of mutation is responsible for new variations (alleles) of a trait?

2. Which type of mutation results in abnormal amino acid sequence?

Frame
3. Which type of mutation stops the translation of the mRNA?

Point or frame
2. A geneticist found that a particular mutation had no effect on the protein coded by a gene. What do you
think is the most likely type of mutation in this gene? Why?

Point it does less damage

4. Examine your genetic code chart. Name one amino acid that has more than one codon. Name an amino acid
that has only one codon.

Phe stop
5. Look at the following sequence: THE FAT CAT ATE THE RAT. Delete the first H and regroup the letters in
groups of three- write out the new groups of three. Does the sentence still make sense? What type of
mutation is this an example of?

Frame shift

6. Given the following three mRNA sequences, determine which two code for the same protein. Circle them.
mRNA #1 mRNA #2 mRNA #3

Transcript AGU UUA GCA ACG AGA UCA UCG CUA GCG ACC AGU UCA AGC CUC GCC ACU CGU AGU

Translate

BONUS: You have a DNA sequence that codes for a protein and is 105 nucleotides long. A frameshift mutation
occurs at the 85th base - how many amino acids will be correct in this protein? SHOW YOUR WORK.