Exercise 12. 238: Gene Annotation for Pleiotropic Gene Z: A Little Birdie Told Me So! TASK: Students will annotate ss sense DNA to locate mutations affecting phenotypic outcome. PURPOSE: Mutations in DNA bases are a potent driver of evolution. Understanding what constitutes different types of mutations and whether they are benign or problematic is important for anyone entering the world of science or health. CRITERIA: Students must understand the effects of mutations on DNA. This lab provides an easy if fanciful simulation of evolutionary relatedness and phenotypic expression as it relates to DNA sequences. Answer questions, submit lab at end of the session through Blackboard as a pdf. Background A mutation is any change in a DNA base (A, T, C, or G). Mutations may be benign (e.g. 'silent'), life altering, or in some cases fatal (lethal allele). Single point mutations mean only one base pair is changed; whether or not this is problematic depends on how the DNA code is altered given the redundancy (degeneracy)