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Gene Expression and Regulation > Group Activity
Form groups of three or four students. Discuss and answer the following question: Will a change in a single DNA nucleotide (a nucleotide substitution mutation) always result in a changed protein? Why or why not? Next, design a random 15-nucleotide DNA sequence, starting with the sequence TAC. Transcribe and translate this sequence to determine the amino acid sequence for which it codes. Use the genetic code, Table 10-2. Now "mutate" your DNA sequence by changing the first nucleotide; repeat transcription and translation of this new sequence. Note whether the resulting amino acid sequence is different. Repeat the mutation process by mutating every other nucleotide (the third, fifth, seventh, and so on) of your original sequence one at a time, and repeating transcription and translation. Each time, your original DNA nucleotide sequence should differ from the original DNA sequence by only one nucleotide. Note any differences in the resulting protein each time. What conclusions can you derive? Do your results support your answer to the original question?
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