Mutations and Organisms

Question 1

How do we classify mutations?

Answer 1

They can be changes in DNA, changes in mRNA, or changes in protein structure

Question 2

Neutral Mutations

Answer 2

Protein unaffected

Question 3

Hypomorphic Mutations

Answer 3

Decreased amount or activity of protein

Question 4

Amorphic Mutations

Answer 4

Protein absent or nonfunctional

Question 5

What Determines Phenotype?

Answer 5

Genotype + Environment

Question 6

How are Genes Named?

Answer 6

Genes are named by mutant phenotype or protein

Question 7

How are Alleles Named?

Answer 7

Alleles are named by discovery or phenotype

Question 8

Somatic Mutations

Answer 8

If the cell continues to reproduce the result is a region of mutant cells

Question 9

Germline Mutations

Answer 9

The parent is not affected but all of the cells in the offspring are affected

Question 10

Inherited Mutations

Answer 10

Germline mutations become inherited mutations

Each generation is affected

Question 11

Will a somatic mutation become an inherited mutation?

Answer 11

No, not in animals at least

Question 12

Pseudogenes

Answer 12

Genes that mutated so long ago that everyone has the mutation

Question 13

Mutations that happened many generations ago

Answer 13

Fairly common mutations but not everyone has them

Question 14

A mutation that happened in a parent’s germline

Answer 14

The offspring will have the germline

Question 15

The mutation happened in a somatic cell

Answer 15

Could cause cancer

Question 16

Do humans have disease genes?

Answer 16

No, mutant alleles of some genes can cause disease though

Question 17

Where do most mutations occur?

Answer 17

Between genes