BIO 221 Genetics Practice Problems

Problem Set 1
Use the template gene 3TACAACGGTAAGAACCAT5 for the following questions. Label
the 3 and 5 ends.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

How many amino acids are encoded by this sequence?

How many codons are encoded by this sequence?
Give the sequence of the fourth nontemplate triplet, with 3 and 5 ends labeled.
Give the second and third amino acids encoded by the template DNA.
Give the sequence of the fifth anticodon, with 3 and 5 ends labeled.
Give one nontemplate DNA sequence associated with the following peptide:
Methionine-Isoleucine-Cysteine-Glutamic Acid-Threonine

Problem Set 2
Use the template gene 3ACCCGCAAATTA5 for the following questions. Label the 3
and 5 ends.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Give
Give
Give
Give
Give
Give

the
the
the
the
the
the

amino acid sequence encoded by the template gene.

nontemplate DNA sequence, with 3 and 5 ends labeled.
third anticodon sequence, with 3 and 5 ends labeled.
second nontemplate DNA triplet, with 3 and 5 ends labeled.
number of mRNA nucleotides encoded by the template gene.
number of mRNA codons encoded by the template gene.

Problem Set 3
Use the anticodon sequence 5-AAU-3 for the following questions:
1. Give the nontemplate DNA triplet, with 3 and 5 ends labeled.
2. Give the encoded amino acid.
Use the mRNA codon 3-CAU-5 for the following questions:
3. Give the template DNA triplet, with 3 and 5 ends labeled.
4. Give the tRNA anticodon, with 3 and 5 ends labeled.
Problem Set 4
Use the wild type template sequence 3TACAAATTAGGCCAT5 for the following
questions:
1. Give the amino acid sequence for this tDNA.
2. Give the mutated DNA sequence if a thymine dimer due to UV radiation was
uncorrected.
3. Give the amino acid sequence for the mutated tDNA.
4. Is the mutation above a frameshift or point? Explain.
Problem Set 5
Use the wild type template sequence 3TACAACGGTAAGAACCAT5 for the following
questions:
1. Give the amino acid sequence for
2. Diagram and explain the effect of
3. Diagram and explain the effect of
position of triplet 3.
4. Diagram and explain the effect of

the wild type (normal) DNA.

a mutation where G is replaced by A in triplet 4.
a mutation where G is replaced by A in the 1 st
a mutation where A is replaced by T in the 2 nd

BIO 221 Genetics Practice Problems

position of triplet 5.
5. Diagram and explain the effect of a deletion of the first two nucleotides of triplet 2.
ANSWERS FOLLOW

BIO 221 Genetics Practice Problems

ANSWERS
Problem Set 1
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

6
6
5-TTC-3
Leucine-Proline
3-AAC-5
Answers vary; one sequence: 5-ATGATT/ATCTGT/TGCGAA/GAGACT/ACA/ACC/ACG3

Problem Set 2
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Tryptophan-Alanine-Phenylalanine-Asparagine
5-TGGGCGTTTAAT-3
3-AAA-5
5-GCG-3
12
4

Problem Set 3
1.
2.
3.
4.

5-ATT-3 (recall that the codon is 5 3)

Isoleucine
3-ATG-5 (recall that the codon is 5 3)
3-AUG-5

Problem Set 4
1. Methionine-Phenylalanine-Asparagine-Proline-Valine
2. 3-TACAAAAGGCCAT-5
3. Methionine-Phenylalanine-Serine-Glycine
4. Frameshift. With a point mutation, one nucleotide is substituted but the nucleotide
number remains the same. The thymine dimer causes a deletion of two nucleotides,
shifting the DNA reading frame to the left.
Problem Set 5
1. MethionineLeucineProlinePhenylalanineLeucineValine
2. WT: 3-AAG5-UUC PHE / MT: 3-AAA 5-UUU PHE = Silent, Point
3. WT: 3-GGT 5-CCA PRO / MT: 3-AGT 5-UCA SER = Missense, Point
4. WT: 3-AAC 5-UUG LEU / MT: 3-ATC 5-UAG STOP = Nonsense, Point
5. WT: 3-TAC-AAC-GGT-AAG-AAC-CAT-5 MT: 3-TAC- CGG-TAA-GAA-CCA-T5
MET-LEU-PRO-PHE-LEU-VAL MET-ALA-ILE-LEU-GLY = Frameshift, Missense