Mutations

Question 1

why don’t all mutations in the nucleotide sequence of a gene cause a change in the structure of a polypeptide?

Answer 1

1. triplet could code for the same amino acid if the sequence is degenerate
2. mutation could occur in a non coding sequence

Question 2

what is a genetic mutation?

Answer 2

any change made to the base sequence of a gene

Question 3

what are the types of mutations that can occur in chromosomes?

Answer 3

1. Polyploidy
2. Non-disjunction

Question 4

what is Polyploidy?

Answer 4

a change to a whole set of chromosomes which causes an individual to have more that two complete sets of chromosomes

Question 5

what is Non-disjunction?

Answer 5

Occurs when a chromosome doesn’t separate correctly in the anaphase 2 of meiosis, causing a gamete to have one more or less chromosomes than intended

Question 6

what is crossing over?

Answer 6

When the homologous pairs of chromosomes align and intertwine. They then exchange some of their genetic material, leading to a variety of combinations of different alleles on the gene

Question 7

what is independent assortment?

Answer 7

the idea that because the homologous pairs (in division 1) and the chromosomes (in division 2) arrange themselves randomly at the equator, the way in which they are pulled by the contracting spindles are random as well