You have just finished an exhausting genetic screen You now

You have just finished an exhausting genetic screen. You now want to fully characterize one new mutation you are calling mtp. You need to determine if the mtp mutation is a nullomorph, hypomorph, or hypermorph. Describe multiple types of experiments you would perform to fully characterize this new mutant (number them for clarity) AND describe your interpretation of possible results for each experiment using the following type of sentence structure/ logic: If I do __ and see _____, then I will conclude_______. In contrast, if I see____, then I will conclude ___________)

Solution

Consider that the mutation mtp generates a protein which can be easily monitored in the cells. The change in expression levels of this protein directly correlates with the gene levels of mtp in the cells. In order to identify the nature of mtp mutation in the cells, a simple experiment can be performed:

Interpretation: If the band is strong in third set of cells as compared to first cell, the mutation is a hypermorph kind. If the band is strong in the second set of cells as compared to first set, the mutation is a hypomorph kind. However, if all the sets have similar intensity of bands, the mutation will be nullomorph in nature.

Thus, the logical sentence can be framed as:

If I do _expression analysis of proteins_ and see __differential expression of proteins___, then I will conclude__that the mutation is hypermorph or hypomorph_____. In contrast, if I see__no change in expression__, then I will conclude ___that the mutation is nullomorph________)