Embedded Files
Play the video below to begin Part 2.
Play the video below to begin Part 2.
Video 6
Mysterious Case of Brain Illness Part 2 Video 1.mp44. Why did the veterinarians conduct genetic tests on viruses from the brains of the dead birds?
4. Why did the veterinarians conduct genetic tests on viruses from the brains of the dead birds?
Record the answer in your Digital Lab Notebook.
The genetic information for the viruses that cause encephalitis is coded in a sequence of nucleotide bases (A, U, C, G) in RNA molecules. CLICK HERE to view the sequence of letters that represent part of an RNA molecule from the virus that killed one of the birds.
The genetic information for the viruses that cause encephalitis is coded in a sequence of nucleotide bases (A, U, C, G) in RNA molecules. CLICK HERE to view the sequence of letters that represent part of an RNA molecule from the virus that killed one of the birds.
AGUAGUGUUU GUGAGGAUUA ACAACAAUUA
You will need to compare this sequence of letters with the sequences of letters on the Known RNA Sequences for Four Viruses Carried by Mosquitoes sheet.
You will need to compare this sequence of letters with the sequences of letters on the Known RNA Sequences for Four Viruses Carried by Mosquitoes sheet.
Puzzle to find the Known RNA Sequences for Four Viruses Carried by Mosquitoes
Puzzle to find the Known RNA Sequences for Four Viruses Carried by Mosquitoes
Puzzle Instructions:
Puzzle Instructions:
Solve the jigsaw puzzle below by dragging the pieces into the correct position. The jigsaw puzzle field helps you out a bit, because if you drag a piece near the correct spot, the puzzle piece will 'slide' into place and cannot be moved anymore. To select and drag puzzle pieces:
Solve the jigsaw puzzle below by dragging the pieces into the correct position. The jigsaw puzzle field helps you out a bit, because if you drag a piece near the correct spot, the puzzle piece will 'slide' into place and cannot be moved anymore. To select and drag puzzle pieces:
To select click puzzle piece with your computer mouse, then drag into place (computers)
To select click puzzle piece with your computer mouse, then drag into place (computers)
or
or
To select touch puzzle piece on your screen, then drag into place (mobile devices)
To select touch puzzle piece on your screen, then drag into place (mobile devices)
Once solved, the completed image shows the Known RNA Sequences for Four Viruses Carried by Mosquitoes. Use the sheet to answer Part 2 questions in your Digital Lab Notebook.
Once solved, the completed image shows the Known RNA Sequences for Four Viruses Carried by Mosquitoes. Use the sheet to answer Part 2 questions in your Digital Lab Notebook.
Interactive Puzzle
To complete 5a and 5b, compare the RNA sequence of letters from the virus that killed one of the birds with these sequences of letters on the sheet you unlocked. Record your responses and observations in your digital lab notebook and you continue with Part 2.
To complete 5a and 5b, compare the RNA sequence of letters from the virus that killed one of the birds with these sequences of letters on the sheet you unlocked. Record your responses and observations in your digital lab notebook and you continue with Part 2.
5a. Compare this sequence of letters (AGUAGUGUUU GUGAGGAUUA ACAACAAUUA) with the sequences of letters on the Known RNA Sequences for Four Viruses Carried by Mosquitoes sheet.
5a. Compare this sequence of letters (AGUAGUGUUU GUGAGGAUUA ACAACAAUUA) with the sequences of letters on the Known RNA Sequences for Four Viruses Carried by Mosquitoes sheet.
5b. Which type of virus most likely caused the bird encephalitis? Support your answer with evidence from the genetic information.
5b. Which type of virus most likely caused the bird encephalitis? Support your answer with evidence from the genetic information.
Click Here to review the RNA sequences you unlocked
Click Here to review the RNA sequences you unlocked
Additional Information:
Additional Information:
The veterinarians reported the results of the genetic tests on birds to the city Department of Health. Because the bird encephalitis and human encephalitis cases occurred at about the same time, scientists at the Department of Health wondered if the human encephalitis cases might be caused by West Nile virus instead of Saint Louis Encephalitis virus.
The veterinarians reported the results of the genetic tests on birds to the city Department of Health. Because the bird encephalitis and human encephalitis cases occurred at about the same time, scientists at the Department of Health wondered if the human encephalitis cases might be caused by West Nile virus instead of Saint Louis Encephalitis virus.
To test this, the scientists added blood plasma from one of the human patients with encephalitis to a test strip that had been coated with antigens from Saint Louis Encephalitis virus and antigens from West Nile virus. Both areas of the test strip turned pink, indicating that the patient’s antibodies had attached to the antigens from both Saint Louis Encephalitis virus and West Nile virus.
To test this, the scientists added blood plasma from one of the human patients with encephalitis to a test strip that had been coated with antigens from Saint Louis Encephalitis virus and antigens from West Nile virus. Both areas of the test strip turned pink, indicating that the patient’s antibodies had attached to the antigens from both Saint Louis Encephalitis virus and West Nile virus.
6. Use the information in the diagram above to explain why the antibodies in Patient 1’s blood plasma could attach to antigens from BOTH the Saint Louis Encephalitis virus and the West Nile virus.
6. Use the information in the diagram above to explain why the antibodies in Patient 1’s blood plasma could attach to antigens from BOTH the Saint Louis Encephalitis virus and the West Nile virus.
Read and Click
Read and Click
To determine whether Saint Louis Encephalitis virus or West Nile virus was causing the human encephalitis outbreak, scientists from the Health Department did genetic tests on the viruses that cause human encephalitis. The genetic information below represents part of an RNA molecule from a virus that caused the outbreak of human encephalitis.
To determine whether Saint Louis Encephalitis virus or West Nile virus was causing the human encephalitis outbreak, scientists from the Health Department did genetic tests on the viruses that cause human encephalitis. The genetic information below represents part of an RNA molecule from a virus that caused the outbreak of human encephalitis.
GUGAGGAUUA ACAACAAUUA ACACAGUGCG
7a. Compare this genetic information (sequence of letters) with the Known RNA Sequences for Four Viruses Carried by Mosquitoes.
7a. Compare this genetic information (sequence of letters) with the Known RNA Sequences for Four Viruses Carried by Mosquitoes.
7b. Which type of virus caused the human encephalitis outbreak? Support your answer with evidence from the genetic information.
7b. Which type of virus caused the human encephalitis outbreak? Support your answer with evidence from the genetic information.
8. Explain how the work done by veterinarians was important in protecting human health.
8. Explain how the work done by veterinarians was important in protecting human health.
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