[Unit 9.1] | Gene Mutation

Question 1

What is a mutation?

Answer 1

A change to the base sequence of a DNA molecule.

Question 2

What 2 ways can gene mutation occur during DNA replication?

Answer 2

• Base Substitution
• Base deletion

Question 3

What is base substitution and what are the consequences?

Answer 3

• A genetic mutation that occurs when a base is replaced with a different one.

• Codon may code for a different amino acid, thereby disallowing the formation of bonds that may be important to the tertiary structure.

• In the case of enzymes, this may alter it’s active site and render it useless.

Question 4

Describe the consequences of the deletion of bases.

Answer 4

• If one nucleotide is removed from a polypeptide chain, the nucleotides that follow will all be read one to the left of their correct position, therefore potentitally producing a large number of incorrect amino acids, causing the polypeptide to not function.

Question 5

What is a chromosome mutation?

Answer 5

A change in the structure or number of whole chromosomes.