Surviving Mutations (Rebecca Orellana)

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Principle(s) Investigated: Genetic Mutations

Standards:

Materials: • Google Sheets or Worksheet

• Random number generator (ie random.org) or dice (requires adjustment of Mutation Chart)

Procedure:

1. Students will pair up and take a slot on the Google Sheet
   1. Optional: Students can give themselves an animal team name
2. Students will use a random number generator to get 10 random numbers between 1 and 50
3. Students will use the Mutation Cart to calculate their Mutation Points
   1. Teams whose Mutation Points are 50 or higher do not survive
4. Students will discuss the mutation rate of humans and why those mutations might be survivable
5. Students will recalculate their Mutation Points using the Mutation Chart V2
   1. One Lucky Mutation will be randomly chosen

Student prior knowledge: Students should have a basic understanding about how DNA is replicated and proteins are built. Students should also be aware of genetic variation and genetic disorders.

Explanation: The idea of this activity is to get students to think about how DNA mutations might affect the way a cell functions. By presenting students with the idea that most humans have roughly 64 mutations not present in parental DNA they should also be thinking about why those mutations might not have an effect on the fitness of the organism.

Questions & Answers: Give three thought-provoking questions and provide detailed answers.

Applications to Everyday Life:

1. Gives one potential explanation for why certain disorders continue to exist despite being lethal
2. Gives context for the rise of cancer in multi-cellular organisms

Photographs:

Videos: Include a video of your investigation

IMPORTANT NOTE: Embed a Youtube Video that illustrates the procedure and results. This video should reside in your YouTube account and should be viewable by all. You may use a video in another persons YouTube channel if the video is better quality than what you can make.