Content Objective: XXX
Language Objective: XXX
Syllabus Details:
D2.11 - Mutations that change protein structure - "Include an example of a point mutation affecting protein structure."
D1.3.1 - Gene mutations as structural changes to genes at the molecular level - "Distinguish between substitutions, insertions, and deletions."
D1.3.2 - Consequences of base substitutions - "Students should understand that single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are the result of base substitution mutations and that because of the degeneracy of the genetic code, they may or may not change a single amino acid in a polypeptide."
D1.3.3 - Consequences of insertions and deletions - "Include the likelihood of polypeptides ceasing to function, either through frameshift changes or through major insertions or deletions. Use trinucleotide repeats of the gene HTT as an example of insertion and the delta 32 mutation of the CCR5 gene as an example of deletion."
D1.3.4 - Causes of gene mutation - "Students should understand that gene mutation can be caused by mutagens and by errors in DNA replication or repair. Include examples of chemical mutagens and mutagenic forms of radiation."
D1.3.5 - Randomness in mutation - "Students should understand that mutations can occur anywhere in the base sequences of a genome, although some bases have a higher probability of mutating than others. They should also understand that no natural mechanism is known for making a deliberate change to a particular base with the purpose of changing a trait."
D1.3.6 - Consequences of mutation in germ cells and somatic cells - "Include inheritance of mutated genes in germ cells and cancer in somatic cells."
D1.3.7 - Mutation as a source of genetic variation - "Students should appreciate that gene mutation is the original source of all genetic variation. Although most mutations are either harmful or neutral for an individual organism, in a species they are in the long term essential for evolution by natural selection."
D1.1.4—Polymerase chain reaction and gel electrophoresis as tools for amplifying and separating DNA - "Students should understand the use of primers, temperature changes and Taq polymerase in the
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the basis of separation of DNA fragments in gel electrophoresis."
D1.1.5—Applications of polymerase chain reaction and gel electrophoresis -
"Students should appreciate the broad range of applications, including DNA profiling for paternity and forensic investigations. NOS: Reliability is enhanced by increasing the number of measurements in an experiment or test. In DNA
profiling, increasing the number of markers used reduces the probability of a false match."
D1.3.8 (HL)—Gene knockout as a technique for investigating the function of a gene by changing it to make it inoperative - "Students are not required to know details of techniques. Students should appreciate that a library of knockout organisms is available for some species used as models in research."
D1.3.9 (HL) —Use of the CRISPR sequences and the enzyme Cas9 in gene editing - "Students are not required to know the role of the CRISPR–Cas system in prokaryotes. However, students should be familiar with an example of the successful use of this technology."
D1.3.10 (HL)—Hypotheses to account for conserved or highly conserved sequences in genes -"Conserved sequences are identical or similar across a species or a group of species; highly conserved sequences are identical or similar over long periods of evolution. Two hypotheses for the mechanism are functional requirements for the gene products and slower rates of mutation."
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