Mutations in DNA

Lab Brief #10

🎯 Your mission

Understand the idea. Then look for it everywhere.

⚡ The twist

Nature loves to surprise the careful watcher.

What you'll learn

Mutations are changes in DNA sequence that can occur randomly. Most mutations have no effect, some are harmful, and a few may be beneficial and help a species adapt.

Key words

mutation
A change in a gene that can create a new trait.
species
A group of living things that can have young together.

Make a hypothesis first

Before you start: write down what you think will happen, and why.

Say your guess out loud — then find out if you were right.

Step 1 of 4 · Read

Look at the vocabulary words and write a definition for each in your own words.

Step 2 of 4 · Do

Extract DNA from a strawberry using dish soap, salt, water, and rubbing alcohol. Observe the stringy white substance—that's DNA!

Step 3 of 4 · Observe

Observe what happens and describe it in detail.

Step 4 of 4 · Record

Record your observations in your science journal with measurements and descriptions.

Question 1 of 3

What is a mutation?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Question 2 of 3

What is natural selection?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Question 3 of 3

What does DNA stand for?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Mind = blown

🔬 The more you look, the more nature shows you.

Nice work!

You got 0 of 3 right.

Next: The Cell Membrane and Transport All lessons

🎯

Next Smart Experiment

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✨ More to explore

🌍 Where you see this in real life: This shows up in your everyday life more than you'd think.

🏆 Stretch challenge (try it this week): Try one experiment in real life this week — even a tiny one.

👨‍👩‍👧 For the dinner table: “What's the most surprising thing you learned today?”

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