Download Task One: Determining Possible Genetic Diseases

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Name: ____________________________________
Date Due: _________________________________
Task One:
Determining Possible Genetic Diseases
Step 1: Figure out the amino acid sequence for each DNA site.
Rewrite the sections of DNA in the space provided:
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Transcribe the section of DNA into mRNA in the space provided:
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Translate the mRNA into an amino acid sequence in the space provided:
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Step 2: Circle either have or not have for each genetic disorder.
Based on the DNA from site #1, the child will have / not have Huntington’s Disease.
Based on the DNA from site #2, the child will have / not have Marfan’s Syndrome.
Based on the DNA from site #3, the child will have / not have Sickle-Cell Anemia.
Step 3: Writing a paragraph (at least 5 sentences).
Based on what you have written for Step 2, write a paragraph that explains what genetic
disease(s) are coded for in the child’s DNA. Write paragraph in the space provided.
Step 4: Determining the current course of treatment.
Read one article (see attached) about each of the genetic diseases that the child has.
While reading the article, determine what the health risks are that are associated with that
disease. Also, determine what the current course of treatment is for that disease. Write
all information in the space provided.
Step 4: Determine the current course of treatment for each of the diseases that have been
identified during the genetic screening. In your explanation, you should detail the health
risks associated with each disease.
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(Step 4 Continued)
Task Two:
How Did The Genetic Diseases Occur In This Family?
Step 1: Understanding Meiosis
1. Define Inheritance (IN YOUR OWN WORDS): __________________________
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2. Define Meiosis (IN YOUR OWN WORDS): _____________________________
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3. What type of cell is produced by meiosis? _______________________________
4. Why is meiosis important when we study genetics? ________________________
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5. What is independent assortment and how does it affect offspring? _____________
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6. What is crossing over and how does it affect offspring? _____________________
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7. What is a recessive allele? ____________________________________________
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8. How can recessive alleles be passed on even though they are not “seen?” _______
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Step 2: Writing a paragraph
Take your answers for questions # 1,2,4,5,6,8 (in that order) and form a paragraph that
explains the concept of inheritance.
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Step 3: Understanding Mutations
1. Define mutation (IN YOUR OWN WORDS): ____________________________
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2. What is the difference between a frame shift mutation and a point mutation?
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3. What is the difference between a gametic and a somatic mutation?
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4. How can mutations affect the functioning of a cell? ________________________
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5. Give at least two reasons that explain why mutations, even if they occur, may
NOT affect the functioning of a cell. _______________________________________
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Step 4: Writing the paragraph. Rewrite the answers to questions # 1, 4 & 5 in the form of
a paragraph.
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Task 3:
Is Gene Therapy A Viable Option?
Step 1: Read the article provided about gene therapy.
Step 2: Complete the following flow chart that details the basic steps involved in gene
therapy. There are five steps; the first and last have been provided.
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Step 3: List two potential problems that scientists and/or patients might face when
exploring the possibility of gene therapy.
1. ______________________________________________________________________
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2. ______________________________________________________________________
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Step 4: In a one paragraph written response, discuss whether you think gene therapy is a
good thing for scientists to study.
Step 5: Based on the health issues associated with the child’s genetic disorder(s) AND
your answer to Step 4, do you think that gene therapy is a viable option for the child?
1. Decide “yes, gene therapy would help” OR “no, gene therapy would not help.”
2. Come up with three reasons that you found (from either the reading about the
child’s disorder(s) or the reading about gene therapy) that support you answer to
the previous question.
3. Write your answer and your three reasons in the form of a paragraph.
Task Four:
Planning for Future Children
Step 1: For each of the child’s genetic disorders, determine whether the alleles that
cause the disorder are dominant or recessive. Use the space provided.
Choose a letter to represent each type of allele.
_____ = recessive _____ = dominant. These alleles code for ________________ disease.
_____ = recessive _____ = dominant. These alleles code for ________________ disease.
Determine the genotypes and phenotypes that result from each combination of alleles for each
disease.
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Step 2: If the parents are “healthy” meaning that they do not exhibit any symptoms
of the disease, but they still passed on the traits to their child, would the parents be
homozygous or heterozygous for the trait? __________________________________
Step 3: Draw a Punnett Square that demonstrates how the parents passed on the
“disorder causing” alleles to their child. NOTE THIS MUST BE DONE FOR EACH
OF THE DISEASES THAT THE CHILD HAS!
Step 4: Explain each of the Punnett Squares in Words. Be sure to use correct
terminology such as: homozygous, heterozygous, dominant allele, recessive allele.
Step 5: Explain “nondisjunction” (if you do not remember what this term means, refer
to your reading on Down’s Syndrome or your notes). __________________________
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Step 6: Explain the possible effects of nondisjunction, specifically Down’s Syndrome.
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Step 7: The chances of having a child with Down’s Syndrome
increases / decreases as a woman ages.
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Step 8: Does the mother of the child run a great risk of having a child with
Down’s Syndrome? Why or Why not? ________________________________
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Step 9: Rewrite the answers to step 5, step 6, and step 8 in the form of a
paragraph.
Task Five:
Writing The Final Paper for the Parents
On a separate piece of paper, rewrite the following paragraphs IN ORDER.
 Task One, Step 3
 Task One, Step 4
 Task Two, Step 2
 Task Two, Step 4
 Task Three, Step 4
 Task Three, Step 5
 Task Four, Step 4
 Step Four, Step 9