Protein Synthesis Lab

      In this lab we asked the question, "how does the body produce proteins?". Protein synthesis has two stages, transcription and translation. Transcription happens first in the nucleus. First, a copy of a section of DNA is made, called RNA, and the base thymine is replaced with uracil. Then the RNA moves to the cytoplasm, where translation happens. In the cytoplasm, a ribosome reads three base pairs at a time, this is called a codon. Each codon codes for a different amino acid. The amino acids bond together to form a long chain, which become a protein.

http://www.yourgenome.org/facts/what-is-a-mutation

      A mutation is any change in the sequence of the DNA. There are point mutations and frameshift mutations. A substitution is a point mutation that substitutes one base pair for another. For frameshift mutations, insertion is where an extra base pair is inserted, and deletion is where a base pair is removed. From the experience with the lab, the frameshift mutations seemed to have a greater effect than substitution. With substitution, only one of the amino acids is changed, but with insertion and deletion, the whole sequence is shifted, which can completely change the codons and they amino acids produced. Also if the mutation is earlier in the sequence, then it has a greater effect, as the rest of the sequence after the mutation is shifted, resulting in more change. However if a mutation happens later in the code, than it only effects the DNA after, which is a smaller amount.

http://study.com/academy/lesson/insertion-mutation-diseases-examples-quiz.html

      When I chose my mutation, I chose to do a substitution to see if it could have a huge effect like a frameshift mutation. I changed the DNA at the very beginning, resulting in the absence of a start codon, so there was no protein. I think having the mutation towards the beginning of the code has a higher chance of making a bigger change to the amino acid sequence.

      Mutations are very common and they can have little to no effect, or they could have a very dangerous or even fatal effect. Mutations effect the amino acids in proteins, so they could possible alter how your body functions, and cause diseases etc. Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome is a very rare disorder caused by a mutation on the LMNA gene which produces the Lamin A protein. Progeria caused rapid aging in children, and children usually die of heart disease at around age 14. Symptoms can include aged skin, loss of body hair, stiff joints, and more. 

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/family-takes-progeria-%E2%80%98life-according-sam%E2%80%99