DNA Sequencing Activity

Using DNA sequencing, it is possible to figure out which person is different from the normal, how much different, and if they have a disease because of these differences. 

ABBY - only had one difference from the normal. GAG to GTG 

This is a simple point mutation (single change in DNA)

This changes the protein in Abby to VAL (The normal is GLU)

*GLU is very positively charged, VAL is VERY hydrophobic. -- this change is caused in cystic fibrosis. 

 Therefore, the protein might not fold correctly.. or in other words she COULD have some issues with this change in her DNA.

BOB - only had one difference from the normal. AAG --> TAG

His protein went from LYS --> STOP.

(stop literarily means the end of the protein, it stops making it)

This would be called truncation mutation.  (the shortage of the protein itself)

His protein would be 3 amino acids short! :/  

This would probably cause him some problems!

CAROL - (very different from the normal, you can tell this by looking below at the graph!)

She had 14 differences, which caused a low percent similarity. 

The sequences are still there, she just had some sort of a deletion

NORMAL - ACT CCT GAG

CAROL -     ACC CTG AGG

This is called a reading frame --> frameshift mutation. 

This causes her proteins to be VERY different!!

*ALL OF THIS HAPPENS IN CELL DIVISION.

"99% of mutations have NO effect what so ever" - Mr. Ludwig

I believe the disease risk for Abby is pretty low but probably a little higher then Bob's. On the other hand, Carol will most likely have a disease risk because of how many changes she experienced!

P.S. This is probably my best post so far :D

I should work harder on this.