Mutations & Gene Editing (HL IB Biology)

Wilson's disease is a condition caused by a mutation of gene ATP7B located on chromosome 13, which codes for an ion transport enzyme. This enzyme is responsible for transporting copper ions (Cu²⁺) into bile so that it can be removed from the body through the digestive tract. There are several mutations which may lead to Wilson's disease; one of these mutations involves the replacement of the amino acid histidine by glutamine.

Describe the type of mutation that could have led to this disease.

Based on the information provided in part a), explain the effect this mutation would have on the transport of copper ions.

In most cases of Wilson's disease, a sufferer must have two copies of the mutated ATP7B allele before the disease is present.

Suggest what this may indicate about the dominance of the ATP7B allele.

People suffering from Wilson's disease have high levels of free copper in their bloodstream which have been shown to cause damage to the cell membranes of red blood cells.

Explain the consequences of this to the sufferer.

Compare and contrast the X and Y chromosomes.

The sex of a foetus is determined by the father.

Explain this statement.

The following diagram shows a section of mRNA containing five codons. 

The triplets of bases in a DNA molecule that codes for some of the amino acids are listed in the table below.

Identify the amino acid sequence on this section of the mRNA molecule, using the information in the diagram and table.

The five codons in the diagram at part a) are near the start of the sequence coding for a polypeptide. A mutation led to the deletion of one of the bases from codon 3.

Explain the possible consequences of this mutation.

Guanine (G) in codon 4 changed to adenine (A) due to a mutation.

Describe the effect this mutation would have on the amino acid sequence in the diagram of part a).

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Explain your answer.

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The following diagram shows a section of a polypeptide, indicating the polarity of the amino acid R-groups.

Describe the possible interactions that could contribute to the tertiary structure of this polypeptide, by using the information in the diagram.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disorder that leads to the degeneration of muscle tissue over time due to changes in a protein called dystrophin.

Dystrophin is a rod-shaped protein that acts as a link connecting actin filaments in muscle fibres to the extracellular matrix by attaching to a protein complex (DAPC) located in the sarcolemma.

Dystrophin is coded for by the DMD gene, and the complete protein consists of four domains (N-terminal, Rod, Cys-domain and C-terminal), as shown in the diagram below.

The following diagram shows the regions of the DMD gene that codes for the different domains of dystrophin.

One of the causes of Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a substitution mutation that leads to the formation of a stop codon in the rod domain of the DMD gene.

Explain the impact this mutation would have on the resulting dystrophin protein by using the information in the diagrams.

After transcription of the DMD gene, the pre-mRNA measures about 2.1 megabases (Mb) while the mature mRNA consists of about 14 kilobases (kb). Note that 1 Mb = 10³ kb.

Calculate the percentage decrease in size of the mRNA molecule after modification. Show your working and give your answer to three significant figures.

Dystrophin contains many hydrophobic regions that plays an important role in maintaining its structure. Some of the mutations leading to DMD replaces amino acids within the hydrophobic regions with ones containing polar or charged R-groups.

Suggest the effect that this would have on the structure of dystrophin.

Hereditary transthyretin (hATTR) amyloidosis is an inherited condition that is caused by a mutation of a gene that codes for the blood protein transthyretin.

This mutation results in the protein forming clumps in different areas of the body, such as the cardiovascular system, digestive system and around nerve fibres.

Certain drugs that are designed to bind to mRNA molecules are used as treatment for this condition.

Suggest why these drugs could be used as a treatment for hATTR.

The table below shows the genetic code and the amino acids that it codes for.

Use the information in the diagram and table to describe the effect the mutation would have on transthyretin.

Mitochondrial diseases (MD) are a group of genetic disorders where body cells cannot aerobically respire properly.

One example of an MD is caused by the mutation of a mitochondrial gene that codes for a tRNA molecule. The mutation leads to the replacement of a guanine base with adenine in the anticodon of the tRNA molecule. This results in the formation of a non-functional protein in the mitochondrion.

Suggest how the change in the anticodon of a tRNA molecule leads to an MD.

Explain the role of ATP in translation.

Edwards syndrome is a rare but serious condition that influences birth weight and development. Death rates during infancy are high. The image below shows the karyogram of an individual with Edwards syndrome.

Use the karyogram to suggest the cause of Edwards syndrome.

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Describe the events that have led to the feature noted in part i).

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Edwards syndrome affects every cell in the body.

Explain why this is the case.

One of the life-threatening complications that babies with Edwards syndrome can be born with is a structural abnormality in the heart. The image below shows a heart abnormality that can be seen in babies born with Edwards syndrome.

Explain why the abnormality shown in the image can be life-threatening.

The graph below shows the number of pregnancies affected by Edwards syndrome between 1985 and 2008.

In the year marked X there were 1 100 000 pregnancies, and in the year marked Y there were 700 000 pregnancies.

Calculate the number of affected pregnancies at the times marked X and Y.

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Suggest one reason for the difference in affected pregnancies between times X and Y.

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