DNA - Mutations

Question 1

mutations

Answer 1

• changes in the genetic material

- any change that occurs in DNA

Question 2

significance of mutations

Answer 2

• most mutations are neutral, meaning they have little or no effect on the expression of genes or the function of proteins
• this is shown wen the third base in the codon is changed but the codon still codons for the correct amino acid. this is called the wobble effect
• defective proteins can be produced that disrupt normal biological activities

Question 3

point mutations

Answer 3

• occur at a single point in the DNA sequence

- involve changes in just one or a few nucleotides

Question 4

frameshift mutations

Answer 4

• when the reading frame is shifted one direction or the other due to an insertion or deletion, a frameshift mutation has taken place
• this can disrupt the sequence of mutations

Question 5

good with the bad

Answer 5

• harmful mutations are the cause of many genetic disorders
• mutations are also the source of genetic variability in a species
• some mutations are actually beneficial
• mutations early in development can cause major problems because then all the new cells will have that mutation