Question

part 4: analysis questions 1. how does the structure of dna determine the proteins that are made? 2. how do proteins determine the traits we see in an organism? 3. what might happen if a dna sequence changes (mutation)?

Explanation:

1. DNA has a sequence of nucleotides. Through transcription, an mRNA is made with a complementary sequence. Then, during translation, the mRNA sequence is read in codons (sets of three nucleotides), and each codon corresponds to a specific amino - acid. A chain of amino - acids forms a protein.
2. Proteins can be enzymes that catalyze biochemical reactions, structural components of cells and tissues, or signaling molecules. These functions influence the physical and physiological traits of an organism. For example, enzymes can affect metabolism which impacts growth and development, and structural proteins like collagen affect the structure of skin, bones, etc.
3. A DNA sequence change (mutation) can alter the mRNA sequence during transcription. This can lead to a different amino - acid sequence during translation. The resulting protein may have a different structure and function. It could be non - functional, have an altered function, or in some cases, a new beneficial function. Mutations can also be silent, where the change in DNA does not result in a change in the amino - acid sequence due to the redundancy of the genetic code.

Answer:

1. DNA's nucleotide sequence is transcribed to mRNA and then translated to form proteins based on codon - amino acid relationships.
2. Proteins function as enzymes, structural components, or signaling molecules to influence organismal traits.
3. A DNA mutation can change the protein's amino - acid sequence, potentially altering its structure and function, or be silent.