HSC - Stage 6 2 Unit Biology
HSC Module 6
Genetic change
Part 1
1
,HSC - Stage 6 2 Unit Biology
Module 6: Genetic Change
Content
Mutation
Inquiry question: How does mutation introduce new alleles into a population?
Students:
● explain how a range of mutagens operate, including but not limited to:
– electromagnetic radiation sources
– chemicals
– naturally occurring mutagens
● compare the causes, processes and effects of different types of mutation, including but not limited to:
– point mutation
– chromosomal mutation
● distinguish between somatic mutations and germ-line mutations and their effect on an organism
(ACSBL082, ACSBL083)
● assess the significance of ‘coding’ and ‘non-coding’ DNA segments in the process of mutation
(ACSBL078)
● investigate the causes of genetic variation relating to the processes of fertilisation, meiosis and
mutation (ACSBL078)
● evaluate the effect of mutation, gene flow and genetic drift on the gene pool of populations
(ACSBL091, ACSBL092)
Biotechnology
Inquiry question: How do genetic techniques affect Earth’s biodiversity?
Students:
● investigate the uses and applications of biotechnology (past, present and future), including: (ACSBL087)
– analysing the social implications and ethical uses of biotechnology, including plant and animal examples
– researching future directions of the use of biotechnology
– evaluating the potential benefits for society of research using genetic technologies
– evaluating the changes to the Earth’s biodiversity due to genetic techniques
Genetic Technologies
Inquiry question: Does artificial manipulation of DNA have the potential to change populations forever?
Students:
● investigate the uses and advantages of current genetic technologies that induce genetic change
● compare the processes and outcomes of reproductive technologies, including but not limited to:
– artificial insemination
– artificial pollination
● investigate and assess the effectiveness of cloning, including but not limited to:
– whole organism cloning
– gene cloning
● describe techniques and applications used in recombinant DNA technology, for example:
– the development of transgenic organisms in agricultural and medical applications (ACSBL087)
● evaluate the benefits of using genetic technologies in agricultural, medical and industrial applications
(ACSBL086)
● evaluate the effect on biodiversity of using biotechnology in agriculture
● interpret a range of secondary sources to assess the influence of social, economic and cultural contexts on a range
of biotechnologies
2
,HSC - Stage 6 2 Unit Biology
Inquiry question: How does mutation introduce new alleles into a population?
● explain how a range of mutagens operate, including but not limited to:
– electromagnetic radiation sources
– chemicals
– naturally occurring mutagens
Electromagnetic radiation sources (also called physical mutagens)
• The electromagnetic spectrum is a series of different types of waves ranging
from wavelengths. High energy radiation can ionise atoms (which means to
remove electrons from atoms) and is called ionising radiation. Examples of
ionising radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum contain short wavelengths
includes X rays, gamma rays, and high frequency end of the UV light
spectrum.
3
, HSC - Stage 6 2 Unit Biology
EXAMPLE UV RADIATION
• UVB or middle UV (280-315 nm) and UVC (100-280 nm) which have shorter
wavelengths are a form of ionising radiation that is high in energy and the
chemical damage it causes to DNA by breaking bonds is known to be
mutagenic. The effect of UV radiation on DNA is to produce pyrimidine
dimers (cross-linked nucleotides). This occurs when an adjacent pair of
bases (either two thymine or two cytosine on the same strand become
attached to each other. This prevents them from pairing with bases on the
complementary strand, causing the strand to end prematurely. This therefore
prevents normal replication and transcription, affecting both the cell cycle and
gene products.
4
HSC Module 6
Genetic change
Part 1
1
,HSC - Stage 6 2 Unit Biology
Module 6: Genetic Change
Content
Mutation
Inquiry question: How does mutation introduce new alleles into a population?
Students:
● explain how a range of mutagens operate, including but not limited to:
– electromagnetic radiation sources
– chemicals
– naturally occurring mutagens
● compare the causes, processes and effects of different types of mutation, including but not limited to:
– point mutation
– chromosomal mutation
● distinguish between somatic mutations and germ-line mutations and their effect on an organism
(ACSBL082, ACSBL083)
● assess the significance of ‘coding’ and ‘non-coding’ DNA segments in the process of mutation
(ACSBL078)
● investigate the causes of genetic variation relating to the processes of fertilisation, meiosis and
mutation (ACSBL078)
● evaluate the effect of mutation, gene flow and genetic drift on the gene pool of populations
(ACSBL091, ACSBL092)
Biotechnology
Inquiry question: How do genetic techniques affect Earth’s biodiversity?
Students:
● investigate the uses and applications of biotechnology (past, present and future), including: (ACSBL087)
– analysing the social implications and ethical uses of biotechnology, including plant and animal examples
– researching future directions of the use of biotechnology
– evaluating the potential benefits for society of research using genetic technologies
– evaluating the changes to the Earth’s biodiversity due to genetic techniques
Genetic Technologies
Inquiry question: Does artificial manipulation of DNA have the potential to change populations forever?
Students:
● investigate the uses and advantages of current genetic technologies that induce genetic change
● compare the processes and outcomes of reproductive technologies, including but not limited to:
– artificial insemination
– artificial pollination
● investigate and assess the effectiveness of cloning, including but not limited to:
– whole organism cloning
– gene cloning
● describe techniques and applications used in recombinant DNA technology, for example:
– the development of transgenic organisms in agricultural and medical applications (ACSBL087)
● evaluate the benefits of using genetic technologies in agricultural, medical and industrial applications
(ACSBL086)
● evaluate the effect on biodiversity of using biotechnology in agriculture
● interpret a range of secondary sources to assess the influence of social, economic and cultural contexts on a range
of biotechnologies
2
,HSC - Stage 6 2 Unit Biology
Inquiry question: How does mutation introduce new alleles into a population?
● explain how a range of mutagens operate, including but not limited to:
– electromagnetic radiation sources
– chemicals
– naturally occurring mutagens
Electromagnetic radiation sources (also called physical mutagens)
• The electromagnetic spectrum is a series of different types of waves ranging
from wavelengths. High energy radiation can ionise atoms (which means to
remove electrons from atoms) and is called ionising radiation. Examples of
ionising radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum contain short wavelengths
includes X rays, gamma rays, and high frequency end of the UV light
spectrum.
3
, HSC - Stage 6 2 Unit Biology
EXAMPLE UV RADIATION
• UVB or middle UV (280-315 nm) and UVC (100-280 nm) which have shorter
wavelengths are a form of ionising radiation that is high in energy and the
chemical damage it causes to DNA by breaking bonds is known to be
mutagenic. The effect of UV radiation on DNA is to produce pyrimidine
dimers (cross-linked nucleotides). This occurs when an adjacent pair of
bases (either two thymine or two cytosine on the same strand become
attached to each other. This prevents them from pairing with bases on the
complementary strand, causing the strand to end prematurely. This therefore
prevents normal replication and transcription, affecting both the cell cycle and
gene products.
4
