Hands on Simulation of Mutation

 

Charlotte K. Omoto

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2008, Volume 29

Abstract

This exercise is a hands-on simulation of mutations and their effects on protein encoding genes. Students are provided with different protein encoding genes to randomly “mutate”. Each time, students note the results of the “mutation” on the amino acid sequence. This is repeated and frequency of synonymous to non-synonymous substitutions with random mutation is noted for the whole class. Hands-on nature of this simple simulation makes the concepts clear. This exercise leads to a discussion of the effects of the random mutations to individuals with that mutation, and thus the actual frequency of synonymous to non-synonymous substitutions observed in genes.

Keywords:  translation, mutation, amino acid substitution

University of Kentucky (2007)