Biotechnology, genetics, mutations Flashcards
Causes of variation
mutations: Spontaneous mutations (DNA replication or cell division), mutagens, action of biological agents
Sexual reproduction (meiosis): crossing over, independent assortment, random fertilisation
Environmental factors
Types of mutagens
Physical mutagens
Chemical mutagens
Biological mutagens
Types of mutations
Point mutation: substitution: Synonymous, misense, nonsense. Frameshift: insertion or deletion
Chromosome: Monoploidy, polyploidy, Aneuploidy:trisomy, monosomy.
Substitution mutation
occurs when a nucleotide is replaced by another
Single nucleotide polymorphins (SNP), difference between sequences of just one nucleotide
synonymous (silent)
Missense
nonsense
Synonymous mutation (silent)
occurs when substituted base results in a codon that codes for same AA as OG codon
Missense mutation
When SNP changes the amino acid
Nonsense mutation
SNP creates a new stop codon within OG gene sequence
Results in production of incomplete polypeptide
frameshift mutation
The reading from for corresponding AA has been nudged away from OG.
all codons downstream are affected.
Caused by insertion or deletion
Insertion
addition of one or more nucleotides at a site within the original gene sequence
Deletion
loss of nucleotides from a site within the original gene.
Effects of mutations on survival
neutral mutations
Deleterious mutations
beneficial mutations
Neutral mutations
protein product unchanged
Survival unaffected
synonymous and missense
Deleterious mutations
result in production of an incomplete protein that is non-functional
Non-sense mutations
beneficial mutations
New allele that benefits survival of organism
missense or nonsense
Mutagens
physical
chemical
Biological
physical mutagens
High energy radiation causes damage to DNA
Can cause change to nucleotides, distorting double helix, disrupts complementary base pairing.
Double strand break - complete break in chromosomes
chemical mutagens
Causes substitution of one nucleotide for another
5-bromouracil - resembles thymine and can become incorporated in DNA, it can bind to any base pair. Thus changing what DNA codes for.
Biological agents
Due to action of invasive pathogens: viruses and bacteria
DNA of pathogens can be permanently integrated into host cell’s DNA
Agrobacterioum - causes crown gall disease in stems of plants. Inserts plasmid into plant cell. (Ti plasmid), Codes for enzyme that cuts host DNA and inserts Ti into host DNA, host DNA modified by horizontal gene transfer. Causes rapid cell division.
Monoploidy
Has 1 copy of each chromosome
Polyploid
one or more complete extra sets of chromosomes
Aneuploidy
Addition or loss of one chromosome from a cell
caused by non-disjunction
Trisomy -> one extra Monosomy -> one missing
test cross
If organism’s genotype is unknown, and is displaying a dominant phenotype, it is possible to predict the genotype by performing a test cross.
involves crossing the individual whose genotype is unknown but that has a dominant phenotype with an organism that is homozygous recessive at the locus.
Dihybrid cross
involve two genes wt 2 different alleles for one gene
(Eg. Tall, purple)
Punnet square structure: TP, Tp, tP, tp
polygenic inheritance
Polygene - genes that have a small additive effect on a phenotype. Each gene consists of multiple alleles
inheritance of more than one gene that affects the inheritance of a single characteristic.