Name: Date: Period:

Mutations Practice Worksheet

1. Define the following words:
Mutation

Gene

2. The basic 3 types of gene mutations are:

3. Transcribe the following “normal” DNA sequence into mRNA. Then use your codon chart to translate the
mRNA into amino acids. The normal DNA sequence represents a normal gene. Remember that a gene is a
sequence of DNA that codes for a particular protein.
Normal DNA Gene Sequence
DNA T–A–C–G–C–T–T–C–G–A–A–G–C–T–C–A–A–C–G–G–C–A–C-T

mRNA

Amino
Acids

4. Mutation #1: Compare the mutated strand of DNA in the table below to the normal strand of DNA. What
difference do you notice?

Normal T–A–C–G–C–T–T–C–G–A–A–G–C–T–C–A–A–C–G–G–C–A–C-T
DNA
Mutated T – A – C – G – C – A – T – C – G – A – A – G – C – T – C – A – A – C – G – G – C – A – C –T
DNA

mRNA

Amino
Acids

1. This is an example of a __________________ mutation.

2. Base #_______ which was a _____ was substituted for a _____.

3. How many Amino Acids were changed by this mutation? _____

4. Did this mutation change the gene and therefore the overall protein that would be produced? Explain
why or why not.
 5. Mutation #2: Compare the mutated strand of DNA in the table below to the normal strand of DNA. What
difference do you notice?

Normal T – A – C – G – C – T – T – C – G – A – A – G – C – T – C – A – A – C – G – G – C – A – C - T
DNA
Mutated T – A – C – G – C – T – T – C – G – A – A – A – G – C – T – C – A – A – C – G – G – C – A – C - T
DNA
mRNA

Amino
Acids

1. This is an example of a(n) __________________ mutation (be specific)

2. A(n) _____ was inserted at position # _____.
3. How many Amino Acids were changed? _____
4. How did this mutation change the gene? Explain.

6. Mutation #3: Compare the mutated strand of DNA in the table below to the normal strand of DNA. What
difference do you notice?
Normal T – A – C – G – C – T – T – C – G – A – A – G – C – T – C – A – A – C – G – G – C – A – C - T
DNA
Mutated T – A – G – C – T – T – C – G – A – A – G – C – T – C – A – A – C – G – G – C – A – C – T
DNA
mRNA

Amino
Acids

1. This is an example of a(n) __________________ mutation (be specific)

2. A(n) _____ was deleted at position # _____
3. How many Amino Acids were changed? _____
4. How did this mutation change the gene? Explain.

Conclusion
What type of mutation has the least chance of changing a gene? _______________

Which types of mutations have the best chance of changing a gene? ________________ and ______________

In this activity, which mutation caused the most damage? Explain.