How DNA Controls the Workings of the Cell

Below are two partial sequences of DNA bases (shown for only one strand
of DNA) Sequence 1 is from a human and sequence 2 is from a cow. n
both humans and cows! this sequence is part of a set of instructions for
controllin" a bodily function. n this case! the sequence contains the "ene
to ma#e the protein insulin. nsulin is necessary for the upta#e of su"ar
from the blood. $ithout insulin! a person cannot use di"est su"ars the
same way others can! and they ha%e a disease called diabetes.
Instructions:
1 &sin" the DNA sequence! ma#e a complimentary 'NA strand from both the
human and the cow. $rite the 'NA directly below the DNA strand (remember to
substitute &(s for )(s in 'NA)
2. &se the codon table in your boo# to determine what amino acids are
assembled to ma#e the insulin protein in both the cow and the human. $rite your
amino acid chain directly below the 'NA sequence.
Sequence 1 - Human
C C A T A G C A C G T T A C A A C G T G A A G G T A A
RNA :
Amino Acids:
Sequence 2 - Cow
C C G T A G C A T G T T A C A A C G C G A A G G C A C
RNA:
Amino Acids:
Analysis
1. *omparin" the human "ene to the cow "ene! how many of the codons are
e+actly the same, -----------
2. .ow many of the amino acids in the sequence are e+actly the same,
--------
/. *ould two humans (or two cows) ha%e some differences in their DNA
sequences for insulin! yet still ma#e the e+act same insulin proteins, 0+plain.

1. 2ind A33 of the codons that can code for the amino acid leucine and list them.

4. Diabetes is a disease characteri5ed by the inability to brea# down su"ars.
6ften a person with diabetes has a defecti%e DNA sequence that codes for the
ma#in" of the insulin protein.
Suppose a person has a mutation in their DNA and the first triplet for the insulin
"ene reads ) A ).
)he normal "ene reads ) A 7. $hat amino acid does the mutant DNA and the
normal DNA code for and will the person with this mutation be diabetic,

8. Another mutation chan"es the insulin "ene to read ) * ) (instead of the
normal ) A 7). $ill this person be diabetic, 0+plain.


9. DNA sequences are often used to determine relationships between or"anisms.
DNA sequences that code for a particularly "ene can %ary! thou"h or"anisms
that are closely related will ha%e %ery similar sequences. )his table shows the
amino acid sequences of 1 or"anisms.
.uman: * * A ) A 7 *
A * * ) A
*himpan5ee: * * A ) A A *
A * * ) A
;i": * * A ) 7 ) A
A A * 7 A
*ric#et: * * ) A A A 7
7 7 A * 7
Based on these sequences! which two or"anisms are most closely related,
------------------------
<. An un#nown or"anism is found in the forest and the "ene is sequenced as
follows:
&n#nown: * * A ) 7 7 A A ) * 7 A
$hat #ind of an animal do you thin# this is,
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