Unit 5 reflection

In this unit we learned about  how DNA gets used to create proteins, and how DNA is copied. To copy DNA it is first unzipped by the enzyme helicase, then the enzyme DNA polymarase adds the missing halves, which creates two full sets of DNA. To create proteins, DNA is first transcribed into mRNA by the enzyme RNA polymarase. The RNA is then processed to remove unnecessary parts(introns), and leave only the extrons. The mRNA then leaves the nucleus, and goes to ribosome where it is read in 3 base sections called codon, and used to create a protein. The RNA can be mutated, and there are 3 types mutations. Substitutions are when one base is swapped for another, Insertions are when a base is added, and deletion is when a base is removed. Insertions, and deletion are called frame shift mutations, and have more effect on the protein than a substitution because they effect every codon after the mutation. Finally we learned about gene regulation, which controls which genes are expressed. This is done with an operon that can have a represser attach to at, and block the RNA polymerase from copying the DNA. I am pretty solid on everything in this unit. I am slightly less sure about gene regulation, but overall this unit was one on my better ones.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/Gene_expression_control.png

http://study.com/cimages/multimages/16/point_mutation_types.png

In this unit learned some new skills. In the DNA extraction lab, we had to create our own procedure, and were not told if we had the right procedure, and this taught me to confident in myself. I still want to know more about how DNA expression, and regulation works. I find it interesting that despite the same DNA in all cells, they are very different, and I would like to know more about how and why that happens.

Protein synthesis lab

The body produces proteins in two steps, first DNA is transcribed into mRNA by an enzyme. The mRNA then leaves the nucleus, and goes to the ribosome. It attaches to the ribosome, and the ribosome creates a protein. The ribosome reads the mRNA in the base codons, and adds an amino acid depending on the codon. Once the ribosome reaches a stop codon it stop adding amino acids, and the protein is finished.




https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/Gene_expression_control.png


The type of mutation with the least effect was substitution, because it only had an effect on one codon, this mutation has a good chance of having no effect if tit occurs in the last base pair of a codon. Insertion, and deletion had the most effect, because they effect all the codons after the point where the mutation occurs. These mutations have the most effect if the are toward the beginning of an mRNA sequence.



http://study.com/cimages/multimages/16/point_mutation_types.png


To make a mutation with maximum effect I substituted one of the base pairs in the first codon. I chose this because it would change the start codon, which would prevent the ribosome from making a protein at all. This mutation has to occur in the fist codon for it to have a major effect, otherwise it's effect will be very minor.



https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/67/Different_Types_of_Mutations.png


There is a genetic disorder called progeria, which has the symptom of an increased rate of aging. This usually results in the death of the person with the disorder due to a stoke or heart attack by the age of 20.

http://api.ning.com/files/rij9YXbYphAbAgYkKuHnEMcN0EoYnljvCN3Na44C-XRZsDjNcAW7VPfQcTyhkR8Esf49kNsXhP6BMl0uPyvyWw__/1.HutchinsonGilfordProgeriaSyndrome.jpg?width=229&height=350

DNA Extraction Lab

In this lab we asked the question: "How can DNA be separated from cheek cells order to study it?" We claim that DNA can be extracted from a cheek cell through a simple procedure. First, you scrap the sides of you mouth your teeth, then you swish you mouth with Gatorade, and spit it out. This lets you spit some of your cheek cells out with the liquid, and since Gatorade is a polar liquid it begins to break down the cheek cell. You then add salt to allow the DNA to clump up. You than add soap and enzymes from pineapple juice to further break down the cell, and at the end you ad alcohol to make the DNA float to the surface

As seen in the picture above the DNA floated to the surface at the end of this procedure, which proves that DNA can be extracted from a cell using this procedure.

On possible error is that some people poured the alcohol in too fast, and it mixed with the Gatorade mixture instead of forming a separate layer. This would negate the effect of the alcohol and prevent you from seeing DNA. To fix this the procedure should say to from two layers.

Another error is that is you don't put enough alcohol, then you wont see DNA. This could be fixed by adding more alcohol. 

This lab was done to show how DNA can be extracted from cells, and then be retrieved. This related to DNA, and how it is in every cell in your body. This lab can be applied to the field of genetics. You can use a similar procedure to extract DNA and test it for certain mutations.