Variation and Mutation

Question 1

wHAT IS VARIATION? Cause?

Answer 1

1. Differences in characteristics of organisms within the same species.
2. Caused by mutation within inherited genes or environment

Question 2

Define mutation.

Answer 2

1. Perm change within nucleotide sequence of DNA.

2. Almost always detrimental to protein function

Question 3

What is survival advantage?

Answer 3

When a mutation creates a new phenotype that is better adapted to environmental changes (rare)

Question 4

What is mutation in coding DNA?

Answer 4

1. Changes in proteins produced from transcription and translation.
2. Affects protein structure/function

Question 5

What is mutation in non-coding DNA?

Answer 5

1. NON-CODING = regions of DNA that don’t code for protein sequences
2. Either “switches on/off” certain genes which affects the amount of the protein produced.

Question 6

What are the different types of mutation? (in order of severity)

Answer 6

1. Substitution - sub nucleotide for other, may not have an effect bc many trip codes can code for the same amino acid
2. Insertion - new nucleotide inserted into gene ; changes triplet code arrangement
3. Deletion - part of DNA isnt copied ; likely to affect shape and function of prot