Name _______________________________ Date _______________
Mutations Activity: Understanding the connection between changes in DNA and phenotype
GenScope File: Dragon
A mutation is an alteration in the DNA of an organism. When the DNA is changed, the action of the gene is changed and the resulting trait is different from the original.
Open GenScope using the Dragon file and click on the second button to produce a male dragon. Before you start messing around with the DNA, use the chromosome tool to bring up chromosome 1 which contains the horn gene. Click on the alleles on both chromosomes and refresh your memory about what happens to the organism with each combination of alleles.
1. What are the rules for horns?
W W gives __________
W w gives __________
w W gives __________
w w gives __________
These are the "Rules" for inheritance of this trait in dragons. That was easy, wasn't it?
3.
Now let's make a mutation. Using the chromosome tool, open up the chromosome
window if it isn't already open. Click on the DNA button. The cursor will
turn into a rectangular magnifying glass when it is passed over the chromosome.
Center it over the Color A gene on the X chromosome and click. A new window,
the DNA window, will appear. If you add some of the four bases (Adenine,
Thymine, Cytosine, Guanine) or delete some, then click on the Apply button,
you will create a mutation. Go back to the chromosome window and check
the menu for the Color A allele on the chromosomes. There should be a new
allele listed, aw. Change both alleles to aw and watch what happens to
your dragon in the organism window. Now determine what the rule of inheritance
is for the albino gene and write it in the space below. Do the same for
wings.
To do this, test the mutated gene in the same way that you tested the non-mutated genes: Change the menu for the gene on the chromosome so that you have 2 alleles the same, 2 unlike alleles, allele + mutated alleles and 2 mutated alleles. As you make the changes on the chromosomes, watch what happens to the dragon in the organism window.
W W gives ____________
W w gives
____________
w W gives
____________
w w gives
____________
W ww gives ____________
w ww gives ____________
ww ww gives ____________
4.
Now, using this information, can you come up with a general rule which
would apply to the inheritance of other mutations? Write it in the space
below.
5. There are more mutations. See if you can find them. Write the various combinations of alleles and what the phenotype is for each in the table below: