Essay Unit 11A - Genetics and Genetic Engineering

BTEC Assignment Brief
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Applied
Qualification
Science
Unit number and title
Unit 11: Genetics and Genetic engineering

Learning aim(s) (For A: Understand the structure and function of nucleic acids to
NQF only) describe gene expression and the process of protein synthesis
Structure and function of nucleic acids
Assignment title

Assessor

Issue date

Hand in deadline


You are applying to do work experience in a molecular biology
laboratory. As part of the application process, you have been asked
Vocational Scenario or
to produce an illustrative report to demonstrate your understanding
Context
of DNA, RNA and protein synthesis and the consequences of error
occurring in protein synthesis.


Task Produce an illustrated report that assesses the impact of error in
the stages of protein synthesis, discusses the functional role of
nucleic acids in the stages of protein synthesis and explains the
structure and function of nucleic acids:

Explain the nucleotide structure and main features of the
following nucleic acids:
• DNA – stages and enzymes involved in DNA
replication
• RNA – mRNA, tRNA, rRNA, siRNA

Discuss the functional role of these nucleic acids in protein
synthesis and the locations of each stage involved in protein
synthesis.




Discuss how the genetic code allows proteins to be synthesised
with minimal errors taking place, including:
• triplet codes
• codon
• anticodon
• degenerate code
• non-overlapping

Assess the possibility of errors occurring during the stages of
protein synthesis, particularly during transcription and

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, translation. Analyse the cause and effect of genetic mutations in
DNA, including:
• Missense
• Nonsense
• Silent
• Insertion
• Deletion
• Duplication
• frameshift

Provide examples of the impact that these errors may have on
the end products of protein synthesis.

Scientific terminology must be used accurately throughout your
report. You are encouraged to include photographs of models,
images, or diagrams where appropriate, and reference your
sources.
Checklist of evidence An illustrative report that includes:
required • Assessment of the consequences of error during protein
synthesis
• Discussion about protein synthesis and the role of nucleic
acids
• Explanation of the structure and function of DNA and RNA



Criteria covered by this task:
Unit/Criteria
To achieve the criteria, you must show that you are able to:
reference
A.D1 Assess the impact of error in the stages of protein synthesis.
Discuss the functional role of nucleic acids in DNA in the stages of protein
A.M1
synthesis.
A.P1 Explain the structure and function of DNA and various nucleic acids.
Sources of information https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG7uCskUOrA
to support you with this
Assignment http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/discovery-of-dna-
structure-and-function-watson-397

http://www.scienceprofonline.com/genetics/ribonucleic-acid-rna-
structure-and-function.html

http://www.livescience.com/37247-dna.html

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK26821/

https://www.thebalance.com/what-is-sirna-and-how-is-it-used-
375598

https://highered.mheducation.com/sites/9834092339/student_vie
w0/chapter15/protein_synthesis.html

https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/mutationsanddisorders/possiblemut
ations

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