UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

SCHOOL OF CONTINUING STUDIES

SCS-2472: Biochemistry with a Medical Perspective

DNA Assignment
Due: Sunday July 13th, 2014

As you are learning about the topics from weeks 10-14, complete this
short answer problem set and submit your answers via email to:
coursecoordinator.onlinebiochem@utoronto.ca
The assignment is worth 4% of your final grade for the course.
There are 4 short answer questions worth a total of 12 marks.
Answer all the questions.
You are expected to complete this assignment independently
and are responsible for maintaining academic integrity in this
course.
Question 1
Based on what you know about the factors that stabilize double-stranded, helical
DNA, state 2 types of modifications that will destabilize the duplex structure. How
could you test that the modification has destabilized the DNA structure? (3 marks)

Question 2
Using structures of the base pairs, show how the presence of inosine at the 5
position of the anticodon can recognize three different codons. (3 marks)

Question 3
You are studying a novel mutation that has recently been discovered and are
trying to express the mutant protein, in order to compare its function to the wildtype protein.
In order to express both the wild-type and mutant proteins, you have inserted the
wild-type gene into a plasmid and used site directed mutagenesis to introduce
the following mutation:
Wild type: 5 AAGCTT 3
Mutant:

5 AGGCTT 3

Using restriction analysis, give an example of a restriction enzyme that could

differentiate between these two sequences, and describe how you could
determine if your sequencing has been successful? (2 marks)
Question 4
A) Describe the DNA repair mechanism that could fix the following modification:
the methylation of Cytosine on carbon 5. (2 marks)
B) If repair systems were non-functional, show in words or using a diagram how
this modification results in an AT base pair during replication. (2 marks)