What is gene mutation? When do students in Vietnam learn about gene mutation?

What is gene mutation?

Gene mutation is an unexpected change in the nucleotide sequence of a gene. Simply put, it is a "mistake" that occurs during the DNA replication process, leading to changes in the genetic information encoded in that gene.

*Below is some information about gene mutation that students can refer to.

What is Gene Mutation?

There are several causes of gene mutation, including:

Natural Causes: Errors in the DNA replication process; when cells duplicate, errors in nucleotide pairing occasionally occur.

Influence of Environmental Factors: Ultraviolet rays, toxic chemicals, ionizing radiation... can damage DNA and cause mutations.

Artificial Causes: Human activities: Using chemicals, radiation in industry, healthcare... can increase the risk of gene mutation.

Types of Gene Mutations

Gene mutations can be classified in various ways, but are commonly divided into two main types:

Point Mutation: A change at one or a few pairs of nucleotides.

Substitution: One nucleotide is replaced by another.

Insertion: Addition of one or more nucleotides into the DNA chain.

Deletion: Loss of one or more nucleotides from the DNA chain.

Frameshift Mutation: Addition or loss of one or more nucleotides not in multiples of 3, altering the entire genetic reading frame from the mutation point onwards.

Consequences of Gene Mutation

Gene mutations can lead to various outcomes from harmless to severe diseases, depending on the location and type of the mutation. Some common consequences include:

Change in structure and function of proteins: Proteins encoded from mutated genes can have altered structures, leading to loss or reduction of function.

Cause genetic diseases: Many genetic diseases such as cancer, sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis... are caused by gene mutations.

Create genetic diversity: Gene mutation is one of the important factors creating genetic diversity in populations, which is the basis for evolution.

Applications of Gene Mutation Research

Researching gene mutations is significant in many fields, such as:

Medicine: Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of genetic diseases.

Molecular Biology: Study of genetic and evolutionary mechanisms.

Agriculture: Creation of high-yield, disease-resistant crops. || --- |

*Note: Information about gene mutation is for reference only./.

What is gene mutation? When do students in Vietnam learn about gene mutation? (Image from the Internet)

When do students in Vietnam learn about gene mutation?

Based on Section 5 of the General Education Program for Biology as promulgated with Circular 32/2018/TT-BGDDT, the content studied in Grade 12 Biology is as follows:

Required Competencies

- Based on the chemical structure of the DNA molecule, describe the function of DNA. State the significance of the specific pairings A-T and G-C.

- Define and explain the structure of a gene. Distinguish between types of genes based on structure and function.

- Analyze the mechanism of DNA replication as a process of self-replicating genetic information from parent cell to daughter cell or from one generation to the next.

- Differentiate between types of RNA. Analyze the nature of genetic transcription as the mechanism of aggregating RNA based on DNA.

- Define and discuss the concept of reverse transcription and its significance.

- Define and describe the characteristics of the genetic code.

- Describe the mechanism of protein synthesis from the RNA transcript characterized as the translation process.

- Draw and explain the diagram linking the three processes that express the genetic mechanism at the molecular level as the process of transmitting genetic information.

- Practice extracting DNA.

- Explain the experiment on the Lac operon of E.coli.

- Analyze the significance of regulating gene expression in cells and during individual development.

- State the applications of gene expression regulation.

- Define the concept of the genome.

- Present some achievements and applications of decoding the human genome.

- Define the concept of gene mutation. Distinguish between the types of gene mutations.

- Analyze the causes and mechanisms of gene mutation occurrence.

- Explain the role of gene mutation in evolution, breeding, and genetics research.

- Define the concept, principles, and some achievements of recombinant DNA technology.

- Define the concept, principles, and some achievements in creating genetically modified plants and animals.

- Debate and argue about the production and use of genetically modified products and bioethics.

Thus, in the Grade 12 Biology program of general education, students must define the concept of gene mutation and distinguish between types of gene mutations. Therefore, Gene Mutation is taught in the grade 12 curriculum.

What are the teaching methods for grade 12 Biology in Vietnam?

Based on Section 6 of the General Education Program for Biology as promulgated with Circular 32/2018/TT-BGDDT, the teaching methods for grade 12 Biology in Vietnam are as follows:

- Enhance the positivity, proactivity, and creativity of students; avoid one-sided imposition and rote memorization; focus on developing self-reliance and self-learning abilities to enable students to continue exploring and expanding their knowledge base, and to develop necessary qualities and competencies after graduating from high school.

- Practice the skills to apply biological knowledge to identify and solve practical problems; encourage and create conditions for students to experience and innovate based on organizing learning activities, exploration, and application.

- Apply educational methods flexibly and creatively, suitable for the goals, content of education, students, and specific conditions. Depending on the learning goals, teachers can use a combination of various teaching methods within a topic. Traditional teaching methods (lectures, discussions, etc.) are used to promote students' activeness and proactivity. Increase the use of modern teaching methods emphasizing the student's role as the subject of learning (hands-on learning, problem-solving learning, project-based learning, experiential learning; differentiated learning, etc., with appropriate teaching techniques).

- Teaching forms should be diverse and flexible; combine individual learning, group learning, classroom learning, learning by contract, flipped learning, online learning, etc. Strengthen the application of information technology and communications in biology teaching. Value external reference materials beyond textbooks and a system of teaching equipment; fully exploit the advantages of information technology and communications for teaching on knowledge bases and multimedia, and increase the use of electronic resources (such as experimental films, virtual experiments, simulated experiments, etc.).

- Integrated teaching through topics that connect multiple knowledge areas. When teaching these topics, teachers need to build scenarios that require students to apply knowledge and skills to solve issues of cognition, practice, and technology.