Biology
Mutation Lab
Materials
Dice
Name_____________________________________
Per_______________
Codon Chart
DNA Sequence Page
Procedure
DNA Mutation #1
1. Find DNA sequence number 1 on your DNA sequence page. Write the mRNA sequence that would form
during transcription in the space below DNA sequence 1.
2. In the space below that, using the codon chart write the amino acids that the mRNA will code for during
translation.
a. **Everyone in the room should now have the same amino acid sequence. Compare your sequence
with someone else before continuing.**
3. Now you will simulate a possible mutation in DNA nucleotide #6. Roll the dice and follow the instructions
below
a. If the dice rolls a 1, substitute your nucleotide with an A
b. If the dice rolls a 2, substitute your nucleotide with a C
c. If the dice rolls a 3, substitute your nucleotide with a G
d. If the dice rolls a 4, substitute your nucleotide with a T
e. If the dice rolls a 5, delete the nucleotide
f. If the dice rolls a 6, add a new nucleotide immediately after this nucleotide (roll the dice again to
see which one to add)
4. Now adjust your RNA and amino acid strands according to the mutation in the DNA strand. Write the
result of your mutation._____________________________________________________________
5. Find 3 other people and write their name and the result of the mutation.
a. Person 1______________________________________________________________
b. Person 2______________________________________________________________
c. Person 3______________________________________________________________
DNA Mutation #2
1. Find DNA sequence number 2 on your DNA sequence page. Write the mRNA sequence that would form
during transcription in the space below DNA sequence 2.
2. In the space below that, using the codon chart write the amino acids that the mRNA will code for during
translation. Compare your sequence with someone else before continuing.
3. Now you will simulate a possible mutation in DNA nucleotide #2. Roll the dice and follow the same
instructions as before.
4. Now adjust your RNA and amino acid strands according to the mutation in the DNA strand. Write the
result of your mutation._____________________________________________________________
5. Find 3 other people and write their name and the result of the mutation.
a. Person 1______________________________________________________________
b. Person 2______________________________________________________________
c. Person 3______________________________________________________________
DNA Mutation #3
1. Find DNA sequence number 3 on your DNA sequence page. Write the mRNA sequence that would form
during transcription in the space below DNA sequence 3.
2. In the space below that, using the codon chart write the amino acids that the mRNA will code for during
translation. Compare your sequence with someone else before continuing.
3. Now you will simulate a possible mutation in DNA nucleotide #9. Roll the dice and follow the same
instructions as before.
4. Now adjust your RNA and amino acid strands according to the mutation in the DNA strand. Write the
result of your mutation._____________________________________________________________
5. Find 3 other people and write their name and the result of the mutation.
a. Person 1______________________________________________________________
b. Person 2______________________________________________________________
c. Person 3______________________________________________________________
DNA Mutation #4:
1. Find DNA sequence number 4 on your DNA sequence page. Write the mRNA sequence that would form
during transcription in the space below DNA sequence 4.
2. In the space below that, using the codon chart write the amino acids that the mRNA will code for during
translation. Compare your sequence with someone else before continuing.
3. Now you will simulate a possible mutation in DNA nucleotide #10. Roll the dice and follow the same
instructions as before.
4. Now adjust your RNA and amino acid strands according to the mutation in the DNA strand. Write the
result of your mutation._____________________________________________________________
5. Find 3 other people and write their name and the result of the mutation.
a. Person 1______________________________________________________________
b. Person 2______________________________________________________________
c. Person 3______________________________________________________________
Post Lab
On a separate sheet of paper, answer the following questions:
1. Remember that the goal of transcription and translation is to provide instructions for the proper
sequence of amino acids for making a protein. Between DNA sequences #1-3, what was the most
dangerous mutation and why? What was the least dangerous mutation and why?
2. Which type of mutation (point or frameshift) that you worked with in this lab was the most dangerous,
and why? (If you didn’t do a frameshift, look at one of the other student’s mutations who did).
3. What is the most common result of a mutation occurring in a start or stop codon?
DNA Sequence #1
DNA
G
T
C
A
A
G
T
C
T
A
C
C
C
A
A
C
A
C
G
G
T
G
G
A
C
C
T
A
G
T
C
C
A
T
A
T
T
A
C
C
G
T
G
C
T
T
C
C
G
A
C
T
C
RNA
Amino
Acids
New
A.A.
DNA Sequence #2
DNA
T
A
RNA
Amino
Acids
New
A.A.
DNA Sequence #3
DNA
G
G
RNA
Amino
Acids
New
A.A.
DNA Sequence #4
DNA
RNA
Amino
Acids
New
A.A.
T
A
T