--- title: MS-LS3-1 Lesson Plans | Mutations - Harmful, Beneficial or Neutral description: "MS-LS3-1: Mutations - Harmful, Beneficial or Neutral Develop and use a model to describe why structural changes to genes (mutations) located on chromosomes may affect proteins and may result in harmful, beneficial, or neutral effects to the structure and function of the organism." image: https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Right%20Image.png --- [![Teacher Login](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/347944/f56bee57-133e-4975-8055-799f1f23588b.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/347944/f56bee57-133e-4975-8055-799f1f23588b) [Teacher Login](https://app.knowatom.com/signin) [![KnowAtom Logo](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/KnowAtom%20Logo.svg "KnowAtom Logo")](https://www.knowatom.com/) # MS-LS3-1: Mutations - Harmful, Beneficial or Neutral Develop and use a model to describe why structural changes to genes (mutations) located on chromosomes may affect proteins and may result in harmful, beneficial, or neutral effects to the structure and function of the organism. [![Download a Sample Unit](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/347944/20eee377-e175-48fe-a039-ae723137a2a6.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/347944/20eee377-e175-48fe-a039-ae723137a2a6) Science & Engineering Practices - [Asking questions and defining problems](https://www.knowatom.com/asking-questions-and-defining-problems) - [Developing and using models](https://www.knowatom.com/developing-and-using-models) - [Planning and carrying out investigations](https://www.knowatom.com/planning-and-carrying-out-investigations) - [Analyzing and interpreting data](https://www.knowatom.com/analyzing-and-interpreting-data) - [Constructing explanations and designing solutions](https://www.knowatom.com/constructing-explanations-and-designing-solutions) - [Engaging in argument from evidence](https://www.knowatom.com/engaging-in-argument-from-evidence) - [Obtaining evaluating and communicating information](https://www.knowatom.com/obtaining-evaluating-and-communicating-information) Disciplinary Core Ideas - [Structure and Properties of Matter](https://www.knowatom.com/structure-and-properties-of-matter) - [Growth and Development of Organisms](https://www.knowatom.com/growth-and-development-of-organisms) - [Inheritance of Traits](https://www.knowatom.com/inheritance-of-traits) Crosscutting Concepts - [Scale Proportion and Quantity](https://www.knowatom.com/scale-proportion-and-quantity) - [Cause and Effect](https://www.knowatom.com/cause-and-effect) - [Structure and Function](https://www.knowatom.com/structure-and-function) [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/347944/b5a1446e-d782-4a5f-a019-0b3b98c8304f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/347944/b5a1446e-d782-4a5f-a019-0b3b98c8304f) ## Browse MS-LS3-1 Lesson Plans Grade Ranges All K-2 3-5 6-8 [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image1-Oct-09-2023-07-06-56-1503-AM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/dna-and-proteins) ## [DNA and Proteins In this unit, students investigate phenomena related to how organisms pass on traits to their offspring. Students begin, in this lesson, with an investigation into how DNA codes for proteins, which determine an organism’s traits. This page provides a high level overview of this lesson. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/dna-and-proteins) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/dna-and-proteins) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image3-Oct-09-2023-07-06-52-0262-AM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/dna-and-mutations) ## [DNA and Mutations In this unit, students explore science phenomena including reproduction, DNA, and inherited traits. In this lesson, students investigate how mutations are a phenomena caused by structural changes to the DNA. This page highlights key components of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/dna-and-mutations) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/dna-and-mutations) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image1-Oct-09-2023-07-13-33-0357-AM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/animal-diversity) ## [Animal Diversity In this unit, students figure out connections between genes and heredity to evolution, focusing on figuring out the phenomena of how both genetic information and the environment influence how a population develops over time. Students investigate different kinds of evidence for life’s shared ancestry and then experiment with how adaptations help some organisms survive. Students end with an investigation into artificial selection.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/animal-diversity) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/animal-diversity) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image4-Oct-09-2023-07-13-15-5068-AM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/natural-selection) ## [Natural Selection In this unit, students figure out the interconnectedness of genetics, heredity, and evolution. For this lesson, students create an experiment to observe the phenomenon of natural selection determining which organisms are most likely to survive and pass on their traits. This page showcases parts of key components of the lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/natural-selection) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/natural-selection) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image3-Oct-09-2023-07-13-17-8405-AM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/heredity-and-traits) ## [Heredity and Traits In this unit, students apply what they know about genes and heredity to evolution, focusing on how both genetic information and the environment influence the phenomena of how a population develops over time. In this lesson, students explore the phenomena of how adaptations help some organisms survive. Students also investigate artificial selection. This page showcases key parts of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/heredity-and-traits) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/heredity-and-traits) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Grade/Screenshot%20(48).png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/chromosomes-and-mutations) ## [Chromosomes and Mutations In this unit, students analyze phenomena of inheritance in how living things pass along their genes to offspring. Students evaluate the role of DNA and chromosomes in heredity in this lesson. This page is a high-level extract of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/chromosomes-and-mutations) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/chromosomes-and-mutations) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Grade/Screenshot%20(49).png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/mitosis-in-animal-and-plant-cells) ## [Mitosis in Animal and Plant Cells In this unit, students discover how life reproduces at the cellular level, analyzing the science phenomena of how genetic information is stored in chromosomes. In this lesson, students observe mitosis in plants and animals. This page shows key components of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/mitosis-in-animal-and-plant-cells) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/mitosis-in-animal-and-plant-cells) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Grade/Screenshot%20(50).png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/reproduction) ## [Reproduction IIn this unit, students analyze the science phenomena of inheritance, how living things pass along their genes to offspring. Students evaluate the role of DNA and chromosomes in heredity, and compare the two forms of cell division: the phenomena mitosis and phenomena meiosis. This page shows key components of this lesson on reproduction.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/reproduction) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/reproduction) Standards citation: NGSS Lead States. 2013. *Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By State*s. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. 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