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Teaching the Central Dogma Using the Rock Pocket Mouse and Genetic Medicine
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Molecular Genetics of Color Mutations in Rock Pocket Mice

Topic
  • Genetics
  • Mutations
  • Bioinformatics
  • Evolution
  • Natural Selection
Resource Type
  • Activities
  • Lessons
Level
High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
Used In
2 BioInteractive Playlists
Favorited By
25 Users
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Description

In these activities, students transcribe and translate portions of the rock pocket mouse Mc1r gene to further explore the genetic variations responsible for different coat colors as described in the short film Making of the Fittest: Natural Selection and Adaptation.

By comparing DNA sequences, students identify the locations and types of mutations responsible for the coat-color change described in the film. Students will form a hypothesis to explain how a change in amino acid sequence affects the functionality of the MC1R protein, and how that change might directly affect the coat color of the rock pocket mouse populations. Activity 1 is a basic version of the activity appropriate for first-year high school biology students. Activity 2 is more appropriate for students taking AP, IB, undergraduate level biology. It covers the same content as Activity 1, but also includes concepts of protein structure, protein domains, and how the mutation location can affect phenotypic expression.

The “Resource Google Folder” link directs to a Google Drive folder of resource documents in the Google Docs format. Not all downloadable documents for the resource may be available in this format. The Google Drive folder is set as “View Only”; to save a copy of a document in this folder to your Google Drive, open that document, then select File → “Make a copy.” These documents can be copied, modified, and distributed online following the Terms of Use listed in the “Details” section below, including crediting BioInteractive.

Student Learning Targets
  • Transcribe and translate a DNA sequence.
  • Connect DNA changes to phenotype.
  • Analyze and organize data.
     
Details
Estimated Time
One 50-minute class period. (each activity)
Key Terms

adaptation, amino acid, trait, variation

Terms of Use

The resource is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license. No rights are granted to use HHMI’s or BioInteractive’s names or logos independent from this Resource or in any derivative works.

Version History
Date Published 03.07.11
Date Updated 04.29.20
Curriculum Connections
NGSS (2013)

HS-LS1-1, HS-LS3-1, HS-LS3-2, HS-LS4-2, HS-LS4-4; SEP2, SEP6

AP Biology (2019)

EVO-1.C, EVO-1.D, EVO-1.E, EVO-1.H, EVO-1.J, EVO-1.K, EVO-1.O, IST-1.O, IST-2.E, IST-4.A, IST-4.B; SP1, SP2

IB Biology (2016)

2.4, 2.7, 3.1, 5.2

AP Environmental Science (2013)

II.C

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

3.2

Common Core (2010)

ELA.RST.9–12.7
MP1

Vision and Change (2009)

CC1, CC2, CC3; DP1, DP3

Materials
Resource Google Folder (link)
Student Activity 1 (PDF) 2 MB
Student Activity 2 (PDF) 644 KB
Teacher Materials (PDF) 849 KB
Student Activity 2 - Español (PDF) 710 KB
Teacher Materials - Español (PDF) 279 KB
Additional Materials
  • genetic code chart (provided in student materials)
  • blue, red, and green colored pencils
     
Use This Resource With
Video Resource
The Making of the Fittest: Natural Selection and Adaptation

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Rock Pocket Mouse Resources
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