Biology TEKS Correlations
(6) Science concepts. The student knows the structures and functions of nucleic
acids in the mechanisms of genetics. The student is expected to:
(C)identify and illustrate how changes in DNA cause mutations and evaluate the significance of these changes;
10.
For a mutation to be evolutionarily significant it—
A.
B.
C.
D.
11.
The DNA strand TAGTTGTTTTGC codes for the amino acid sequence isoleucine, aspartic acid, lysine,
and threonine. If a point mutation takes place in the DNA, and the first triplet becomes TAT, what effect
will this have on the amino acid sequence?
A.
B.
C.
D.
12.
changes the type of protein being produced
has a neutral effect on an organism
provides an advantage to the species
causes the loss of a gene
The first amino acid in the sequence remains isoleucine.
Isoleucine is replaced by methionine in the amino acid sequence.
The amino acid sequence now includes lysine.
The last amino acid in the sequence will become serine.
Approximately 900 people live in the small isolated village of Limone in northern Italy. About 40 of the
villagers have high levels of the bad blood cholesterol and low levels of the good cholesterol. However,
they suffer no harmful effects. Doctors have found that these villagers produce a protein that is efficient at
clearing the bad type of cholesterol from arterial plaque and moving it to the liver. Which of the following
best explains this phenomenon?
A.
B.
C.
D.
The villagers take vitamin and mineral supplements.
There are chemicals in the water that flush out the cholesterol.
The villagers eat a diet consisting mostly of meat and cheese.
There is a mutation in the genes of some villagers.
Charles A. Dana Center
Science TEKS Toolkit
www.sciencetekstoolkit.org
This item asks the students to apply their knowledge of mutations and DNA to a situation they
may not be familiar with. The students do not need to know about the village of Limone; they
need to be able to read the stem carefully and then think about something that may be seen as
an anomaly as a possible evolutionary advantage.
13.
During cell division, if a chromosome breaks, a mutation occurs. Which of the following processes prevent
or minimize chromosome breakage during cell division?
A
B.
C.
D.
The chromosomes tightly coil before the nucleus divides.
Protein synthesis takes place during the division of the cytoplasm.
Hydrogen bonds form between nitrogen bases.
An enzyme rearranges the nitrogen bases in a gene.
The Biology TEKS (6)(E) on mitosis and meiosis is not eligible for testing on TAKS. This item
illustrates why you cannot just teach the TEKS listed in the Texas Education Agency Science
TAKS Information Booklets. If the students were never exposed to the processes of mitosis
and meiosis, they would have a difficult time answering this question.
Charles A. Dana Center
Science TEKS Toolkit
www.sciencetekstoolkit.org