Name: __________________________________________________________Date: ____________ Period: ___________
DNA- Dan MUTANT
Copy the learning objective from the white board. When you are finished, start the warm-up.
Opener: How does DNA give living things their traits? Use evidence from DNA Dan to explain your thinking.
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DNA is a biological molecule which is responsible for controlling the activities of a cell. In this activity
you will model the DNA code by using 4 colors. The pattern of those colors will be the code for specific
physical characteristics on DNA Dan.
Directions: This is the code for Dan #1. Dan #1 does not have a mutation.
Dan #1:
PPY
OYY
GPG
GGP
YOP
YGO
OGY
YPO
PYP
GPG
In nature, a mutation is when the DNA code is changed. The change can be beneficial (good), harmful (bad), or
neither. There are three types of changes (mutations) we will be studying: deletion, addition and substitution.
Deletion mutation: A deletion mutation is when one or more of the chemical bases in the DNA code (letters)
is deleted completely. Delete the second letter in your strand and rewrite the code below.
Dan #2: ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ _____
Addition mutation: An addition mutation is when one or more chemical bases in the DNA code (letters) are
added or inserted into the message. Insert a P between your 3rd and 4th letter (from the original) and rewrite
the code below.
Dan #3: ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ _____
Substitution mutation: A substitution mutation is when a chemical base is exchanged or substituted for
another base (letter). Replace the first P you have in your code with a Y and rewrite the code below.
Dan #4: ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ _____
 Use the trait chart to make your Dan mutants on the back of this page. If any characteristic is
coded for more than once, it will only be represented once.
Conclusions: Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
1. How did each of the mutations change Dan from the original?
Deletion:
Addition:
Substitution:
Name: __________________________________________________________Date: ____________ Period: ___________
2. Do you think that mutations could be beneficial? Ex: What if dans with green bodies were better
camoflouged than dans of other colors?
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3. Describe how the DNA is a code for our traits using DNA Dan and his mutants.
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