Dangerously Thin: A Case Study On The Genetic Code

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BIO 137 CASE STUDY#1 ANSWER SHEET Name Brookelyn Lail Section: J009 “Dangerously Thin: A Case Study on the Genetic Code” 1. Why would someone with this type of mutation be at a much higher risk for overdosing on a prescribed drug? The mutation causes the body to break down the medication faster than the body can handle resulting in overuse of the drug and easy overdose. 2. The underlying problem in this case resides in Henry’s “genes.” From what you know about the function of a gene, explain how this problem led to a malfunction in one of Henry’s proteins (the CYP2C9 enzyme). Genes carry information for the all proteins through gene expression. Transcription occurs first, this is where the information stored…show more content…
The DNA changes that are described in Henry’s story are changes to the coding strands of the CYP2C9 genes. What is the function of the coding strand and how does it differ from the function of the template strand of Henry’s CYP2C9 gene? The function of a coding strand is the strand that is going to be transcribed. The function of a template strand is the complementary strand from the coding strand. The template strand is what is used as a template in the synthesis of…show more content…
In the first mutation of the CYP2C9 gene described in Henry’s story, the 1075th nucleotide had changed from an adenine (A) to a cytosine (C). This mutation converts an ATT triplet code in the coding strand of the DNA molecule to CTT. Beginning with this triplet code on the DNA, describe the effect that this change would have on the following: a. The nucleotide sequence on the template strand of the gene. GAA b. The mRNA codon that results after this triplet code is transcribed. CUU c. The anticodon on the tRNA molecule that is complementary to the mRNA codon described above. GAA d. The amino acid that would be carried by the tRNA molecule described above. LEU 6. In Henry’s other CYP2C9 gene, the 430th nucleotide had changed from a cytosine (C) to a thymine (T). This mutation converts a CGT triplet code in the coding strand of the DNA molecule to TGT. Beginning with this triplet code on the DNA, describe the effect that this change would have on the following: a. The nucleotide sequence on the template strand of the gene. ACA b. The mRNA codon that results after this triplet code is transcribed. UCU c. The anticodon on the tRNA molecule that is complementary to the mRNA codon described above. AGA d. The amino acid that would be carried by the tRNA molecule described above.

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