Mutation and Variation

Question 1

what is a mutation?

Answer 1

a gene mutation is a permanent alteration in the DNA sequence that makes up a gene.

Question 2

what is a hereditary mutation?

Answer 2

these mutations are inherited from an individual’s parents and are present throughout a persons life in virtually every cell in their body.

Question 3

what is an acquired mutation?

Answer 3

acquired mutations occur at some time during a person’s life and are only present in certain cells.

Question 4

what is variation?

Answer 4

variation is any difference between cells, individual organisms or a group of organisms from any species caused by either genetic differences (genotypic variation) or by the effect of the environmental factors (phenotypic variation).