For this exercise we will be examining the human gene encoding ferrochelatase. This protein product is involved in the heme synthesis pathway.

Go to the "Gene" data base. Type “ferrochelatase” into the search box and click on the “Go” button. Select the link for human ferrochelatase. Under the “Genomic regions, transcripts and products” section find the link to “NC000018” and click on it, then select “GenBank”from the pull down menu (if a pull down menu does not appear scroll down to the "Reference Assembly section and under NC_000018.8 select GenBank).

This will bring you to the genomic flat file for human ferrochelatase.

Copy the questions below and paste into a Microsoft Word document. Type the answers in bold after each question. When you have answered each of the questions, print the document and hand it in to your Instructor.

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EXERCISE 2: Genbank. NAME: __________________________________

1. What is the GI number of this record?

2. What kind of sequence is this?

3. How many bases are there in the sequence?

4. What is the product of this gene?

5. In one precisely worded, carefully organized sentence, describe the function of the gene product.

6. How many exons are in this gene?

7. There are two different mRNAs and CDS sections. Can you explain why?

8. Looking at the first mRNA and CDS. How long are exon 1 and exon 3?

The following questions refer to the mRNA and protein information for this gene (first mRNA and CDS - gene ID 2235).

9. How can you get to this information?

10. How long is the gene?

11. How many bases are present in the coding sequence of this gene?

12. How many amino acids are present in the coding sequence of this gene?

13. The gene begins with base 1, but the CDS does not. EXPLAIN!

14. What are the first 5 bases in the gene?

15. What are the first 5 bases of the coding sequence?

16. How long is the 5' UTR?

17. What is the start codon for the FECH gene?

18.What amino acid does this correspond to?

19.  How do rate the level of questions so far (1-5 easy to difficult)? Frustration index (1-5)?

Information from both the genomic and mRNA flat files may help answer the next 6 questions.

20. Which is the 4th codon in the 3rd exon of FECH?

21. What amino acid does this codon code for?

22. Which is the 9th codon in the first exon of FECH?

23. What amino acid does this codon code for?

24. What are bases 11-17 after the splice signal of intron #1?

25. What are the last 5 bases before the splice signal at the end of intron #1?

26. What are the last 5 bases in the gene?

27. What are the last 5 bases of the coding sequence?

28. How long is the 3' UTR?

29. There are three stop codons. The CDS includes the stop codon, which one occurs in this gene?

30. Where does the poly-A region begin?