Mutations

Question 1

What is a genetic mutation

Answer 1

a change or alteration in the sequence of bases on a strand of DNA

Question 2

How could a mutation occur

Answer 2

If the DNA is exposed to ultra-violet light, certain chemicals, the chemicals when smoking, or they can be spontaneous

Question 3

What are chromosome mutations

Answer 3

duplication, deletion, inversion, translocation, nondisjunction

Question 4

what are gene mutations

Answer 4

point mutation (single nucleotide), substitutions, frameshift, insertion and deletion (cause frameshift)

Question 5

Substitution mutation process

Answer 5

-a single nucleotide has been swapped for another
-this has caused a change in the codon
-these changes may or may not affect the amino acid that is coded for
-if the new amino acid is significantly different to the intended one, the protein may not be functional

Question 6

Insertion mutation

Answer 6

• a base is added into the sequence
  -causes the triplet ‘frames’ to shift
  -always affects the amino acid codons and consequently the protein synthesised

Question 7

Impact of point mutation-least effect

Answer 7

-substitution
-only changes one amino acid
-swap may code for same amino acid still
-amino acid change can be chemically similar

Question 8

Impact of point mutation-most effect

Answer 8

-insertion/deletion
-cause frameshift
-affect multiple amino acids
-codon changes affect whole protein synthesised