Inheritance - mutations

Question 1

what is a change to the base?

Answer 1

a mutation

Question 2

when do mutations happen?

Answer 2

all the time

Question 3

why can the shape of the protein not change sometimes when a single base has changed?

Answer 3

different base triplets can encode for the same amino acids in. mutations has had no affect on the shape or function

Question 4

most mutations have __ _____ on the function of the protein

Answer 4

no effect

Question 5

what can happen if a triplet base changes and it changes the shape of the protein?

Answer 5

it now has a different function. for example the active site of an enzyme may change so it can no longer attach to the substrate

Question 6

what can happen if a mutation changes the shape of a structural protein?

Answer 6

it can lose its strength such as collagen

Question 7

chromosomes also contain __-______ parts of DNA

Answer 7

non-coding.
these regions switch genes on and off (tell genes when to produce proteins)

Question 8

what can mutations in non-coding regions affect?

Answer 8

how genes are switched on or off.a gene may be turned on when it should be turned off. in this case, the cell would produce a protein that is not meant to have at that time. can have a very significant effect on a cell eg uncontrolled mitosis leading to cancer