Name____Tyshawn Poe__________Date 4/11/2016_______

Genomes, Chromosomes, and DNA Web Quest

Topic: Genomes and Chromosomes
Go to: http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/hgp/genome
1. What is a genome?
A genome is an organisms complete set of DNA, including all of its genes. Each genome
contains all of the information needed to build and maintain that organism. In humans, a copy of
the entire genome, more than 3 billion DNA base pairs, is contained in all cells that have a
nucleus.

2. On the left hand side, click on cells and DNA. Explore this site to answer
the following questions:
a. What is a chromosome?
Chromosomes are thread-like structures located inside the nucleus of animal and plant
cells. Each chromosome is made of protein and a single molecule of deoxyribonucleic
acid (DNA). Passed from parents to offspring, DNA contains the specific instructions that
make each type of living creature unique.

b. When are chromosomes visible?

Chromosomes first become visible during prophase in mitosis, and they are fully
visible during metaphase and anaphase. They lose their visibility during telophase and are
not visible during cytokinesis, which follows mitosis.

c. What is a centromere?
The point on a chromosome by which it is attached to a spindle fiber during cell division.

d. How many chromosomes do people have?

In humans, each cell normally contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, for a total of 46.

Go to: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/traits/karyotype/
3. What is a karyotype?
A karyotype is an individual's collection of chromosomes. Two chromosomes specify gender XX
for female and XY for male
Modeling Instruction AMTA 2012

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Name____Tyshawn Poe__________Date 4/11/2016_______

4. Match the chromosomes to complete the karyotype (turn on hints for
help). Is the karyotype from a male or female? How do you know?
It is male because of the xy chromosome collection

5. Predict what would happen if a person has the incorrect number of

chromosomes. Write your prediction here.
Humans are programmed to have only 46 chromosomes. Is some cases there are problems with
cell division during development which can lead some people having 47 chromosomes instead of
46. Downs syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of
chromosome 21, giving you 47 instead of 46 chromosomes. Down syndrome is the most common
chromosome abnormality in humans in the world. So I think if there were a 48 chromosomes it
could possibly lead to a genetic disorder also

6. Do a quick google search to find the answer to question 5.

As a class you determined that chromosomes must be duplicated before the cell can
divide. This process is called DNA Replication.

Topic: DNA Replication

Go to: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/tryit/dna/shockwave.html
Click: DNA replication (upper left) and then click unzip Read the script, answer the
questions below, and then, click OK.
1.

In a real cell, what does the DNA molecule do before it unzips?

It unwinds from histones and untwists

2.

What molecules break the rungs (bases) apart?

Enzymes

Modeling Instruction AMTA 2012

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Name____Tyshawn Poe__________Date 4/11/2016_______

Drag the correct bases over to synthesize the new DNA halves.
Read script, answer questions, and then click OK.
3.

How many base pairs are in the real human genome?

3 million.

Go to: http://nobelprize.org/educational_games/medicine/dna_double_helix/
Click on Play DNA Game; Click next and reading each page, continue to click next
until you come to the game.; Click on organism #1 and match the base pairs as fast as
you can! It is hard.

Click Next and then click on each organism until you identify the one that belongs to
chromosome #1; continue playing the game with the other two chromosomes, filling in
the chart below.

Be careful, other teams may get different results.

Chromosome #
1

How many
chromosomes?
43

How many
base pairs?
3000

How many
genes?
34000

4300

Modeling Instruction AMTA 2012

What is the
organism?
human

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E-coli bacteria
3

16

11.7

6300
Bakers yeast

Topic: Mutations
Go to: http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/mutations_03
Read the information and fill out the table below:
Type of mutation
Substitution

Description

Effect on resulting protein

is a mutation that exchanges

one base for another

change a codon to one that encodes

a different amino acid and cause a
small change in the protein
produced. For example, sickle cell
anemia is caused by a substitution in
the beta-hemoglobin gene, which
alters a single amino acid in the
protein produced.

Insertion

are mutations in which extra

base pairs are inserted into a
new place in the DNA.

an end to translation and the

production of a truncated protein,
insertion, multiple new amino acids
that may affect the function of the
protein.

Deletion

are mutations in which a section

of DNA is lost, or deleted.

produce nonfunctional proteins or

no protein product at all

Modeling Instruction AMTA 2012

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Name____Tyshawn Poe__________Date 4/11/2016_______

Frameshift

Since protein-coding DNA is

divided into codons three bases

long, insertions and deletions can
alter a gene so that its message
is no longer correctly parsed.
These changes are called
frameshifts.

Modeling Instruction AMTA 2012

frameshift mutation alters the

reading frame of the DNA
sequence and changes all the amino
acids in the protein product after
the point of mutation.

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