6.1 Gene Mutation Flashcards
What is a mutation?
Change to the quantity or structure of DNA
What are the 2 types of mutation?
Gene/point
Chromosome
When can a mutation be inherited?
If it occurs in a gamete
How can the rate of mutation be increased?
Mutagens - certain chemicals or ionising radiation
What does the natural rate of mutation depend on?
The species and locus of gene
What is the usual rate in plants and animals?
1 in 100000 per locus per generation
(Point) where do point mutations occur?
Single locus of a chromosome
(Point) what can a change result in?
Change in DNA bases Change in MRNA bases Change in MRNA codon Change in amino acids Change in protein structure Change in protein function Change in cell function
(Point) what are 3 types of mutation?
Substitution
Deletion
Insertion
(Point) what occurs in substitution and what is its effect?
One base changed for another
Only affects one amino acid
Rest of the protein is unaffected
(Point) what occurs in deletion and what is its effect?
Base is removed
Frame shift occurs
The rest of the protein is wrong
(Point) what occurs in insertion and what is its effect?
A base is added
Frame shift occurs
Rest of the protein is wrong
What is a genotype?
Set of genes in DNA responsible for a particular characteristic
What is a phenotype?
Physical expression of a characteristic
(Effects) why do some mutations have no effect on the phenotype of an organism?
Normally functioning proteins are still synthesised
(Effects) what happens when a mutation has a damaging effect?
Negative effect
Proteins are no longer synthesised or are not functional
Interfering with essential processes
(Effects) what happens when a mutation is beneficial?
Produces a new useful characteristic
(Effects) give an example of a beneficial mutation:
Mutation in protein present in cell membranes prevents HIV binding so the person is immune
What is loss of a purine base?
Depurination
What is loss of a pyramidine base?
Depyrimidination