Gene Mutation

Question 1

This pertains to a change in the DNA sequence of an organism that may be a result of errors in DNA replication during cell division, exposure to mutagens or viral infection.

Answer 1

Gene mutation

Question 2

What are the forms of Gene Mutation?

Answer 2

Somatic Mutation - Mutation that occurs in the body cells and only affects the one who has it

Germline Mutation - Mutation that occurs in the sex cells and may be inherited by future generations later on.

Question 3

What are the types of mutation and their causes?

Answer 3

Point mutation - Mutation in DNA/RNA in which one nucleotide base is added, deleted or changed.

Silent Point mutation: A nucleotide base in a codon is changed but does not cause any changes in amino acid.

Missense mutation: Nucleotide base is changed and this reflects a change in the amino acid of a codon.

Nonsense mutation: A change in a nucleotide base causes that codon to become a stop codon.

Frameshift mutation - type of mutation caused by deletion/insertion of nucleotide bases in a DNA sequence, changing the way the sequence is read

Insertion: One or more nucleotides are added to a DNA sequence

Deletion: One or more nucleotides are removed from a DNA sequence.