L14 - Mechanisms and effects of mutations Flashcards
What are microsatellites?
Tandem repeats of 2-6 base pairs
- <100 bp in total length
What are minisatellites?
Variable number tandem repeats of 10-60 base pairs
- Can span several kb
How can variation in the genome occur?
- Alterations in the sequence of bases in a specific section of DNA
- Single nucleotide polymorphisms
- Small deletions or duplications (few bases)
What can variation in the genome lead to?
Altered effects of a protein or control of genes
- Normal human variation (i.e. eye colour)
- Differences in response to medication (effect of antidepressants)
- Influence likelihood of disease (diabetes)
- Directly result in a genetic condition (sickle cell disease)
How can a genome variant be classified?
Classified by size, frequency and clinical effects
- Large - small
- Common - rare
- Non-pathogenic - pathogenic
What is the definition of a mutation?
An alteration or change in the genetic material
- Harmful in clinical use
- From exposure to mutagenic agents but more arise spontaneously through errors in DNA replication/ repair
- More likely to be recognised if effects are detrimental
- Alters gene function and phenotype
What is polymorphism?
- Non-harmful
- Sequence variant is in non-functional DNA
- Sequence variant is within gene but does not change aa
- Sequence variant changes aa but does not alter protein function
What is a single nucleotide polymorphism?
- A change in a single base at a particular position
- Occur throughout the genome
- Most common type of genome variation
- The base change has to be a frequency of >1%
How can the genome be examined?
- Bases
- Sequencing
- Microarray analysis - Large blocks of DNA
- Microarray analysis
- Fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) - Chromosomal
- Light microscopy
Describe the process of DNA sequencing
- Amplify v small amounts of target DNA (usually by PCR)
- DNA is used as a template to generate a set of fragments that differ in length from each other by a single base
- The fragments are then separated by size, and the bases at the end are identified, recreating the original sequence of the DNA
(Dideoxy or chain termination method)
Why sequence DNA?
- Sequencing determines the exact POSITION of the mutation within the gene
- Determines the TYPE of the mutation (including single base changes)
What is the Sanger sequencing method?
A method of DNA sequencing based on the selective incorporation of chain-terminating dideoxynucleotides by DNA polymerase during in vitro DNA replication `
When do mutations occur?
- Cell division
2. From intrinsic and extrinsic attacks on DNA
What are the different endogenous mechanisms that can cause DNA damage?
- Depurination
- Deamination
- Reactive oxygen
- Methylation of ctyosines
What is depurination?
Spontaneous fission of link between purine base and sugar
- Causes loss of adenine or guanine from helix
- Deletion of base or incorrect nucleotide in new strand
What is deamination?
Cytosine deaminates into uracil
- Causing substitution of an A in new strand