Topic
Information Flow and Genetics
Framing Question
How do genetic variations impact microbial functions (e.g., in biofilm formation, pathogenicity, and drug resistance)?
Learning Objectives
- Define the following: point mutation, genetic insertion, genetic deletion, and frameshift mutation.
- Given a mutation (genetic variation or change in DNA sequence), predict whether or not that change would result in a change of function for the resulting protein (phenotypic change).
- Explain Griffith’s classic experiment with rough and smooth cells. Describe the relationship between capsule genes and virulence.
- For a given point mutation, genetic insertion, or genetic deletion, describe a situation that would result in a frameshift mutation and one that would not.
- For a given point mutation, genetic insertion, or genetic deletion, describe a situation that would result in a non-functioning protein and one that would not.
- Compare and contrast the potential effects of a given mutation in an open-reading frame to a mutation in a regulatory region.
