Mutations Flashcards
What is the difference between inherited and non-inherited genes?
Inherited mutations: germline mutations
- Present in all cells of the body
- Transmitted from parents to offspring.
- Responsible for single gene disorders, e.g. cystic fibrosis
- May or may not be present in multifactorial disorders, e.g. cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease.
- Cause predispositions
Non-inherited: somatic mutations
- Affect cells that descend form cell with mutation
- not transmitted to offspring
- Contribute to multifactorial disorders
- Accumulate in age-related processes so the earlier in life the mutation occurs, the greater its effect as the cell in which the mutation occurred will give rise to more cells
What are the major classes of mutations?
- Point mutation
- Trinucleotide repeat expansion (CAG in Huntington’s disease)
- Deletion/insertion
- Inversion
- Duplication
- Translocation
What are the types of point mutations?
Base substitution:
- Missense: different amino acid
- Nonsense: stop codon
- Silent: last base of codon affected and due to degenerative nature of DNA no effect.
Deletion/insertion: frame shift
What are Duchenne and Becker Muscular Dystrophies?
DMD (severe) causes an “out of frame” frameshift, where the protein synthesis is terminated much earlier then it should.One base less lost than is BMD.
BMD (mild) causes an inframe frameshift, where only part of the amino acid is lost and the remaining are normal.
What is the difference between balanced translocation and insertion of large DNA segments?
Balanced translocation occurs when genes swap chromosomes. Insertions occur when genes from one chromosome move to another.
True or false? Mutations in the non-coding parts of DNA will never have an affect.
False, the mutation may be in a regulatory site, etc.
What is the difference between base excision repair and nucleotide excision repair?
Base excision repair: when a wrong base is inserted, glycolase cuts the backbone, removing the nucleotide. DNA polymerase adds a new nucleotide, which is sealed off by a ligase.
Nucleotide excision repair: when two bases are bound together (caused by UV), the entire section is removed and fixed.
What portion of genes is polymorphic (more than one allele)
At least one third.
Why do some disease-causing mutations persist through evolution?
They may provide heterozygous advantage.
How can gene duplication lead to origin of new genes?
The original gene well function as normal while the duplicate is able to evolve, giving rise to new members of its gene family.
What is a gene family?
A family of genes that encode for proteins with related structure and function.
E.g. globin genes.
Why are heterozygotes for a disease-causing recessive gene able to live healthy?
The correct allele is able to make sufficient protein.
What is restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)?
Identifies disease-causing mutations.
- Get normal DNA sample and the sample. Subject both to a restriction enzyme that cuts at the site of the normal gene. Run gel electrophoresis. If the sample is not cut (less strands are produced), then the person has a mutation.
Which nucleotides does depurination affect?
Adenide and guanine (the purines)
How many depurinations occur each day in each cell? In the body?
10^4 in each cell
10^17 in the body