Variation and Mutation Flashcards
What is Variation?
- Differences in characteristics of organisms within the same species.
example - blue eyes and green eyes, tall people and short people
What causes variation?
Caused by mutation in genes
or by environment
What is survival advantage?
When a mutation creates a new phenotype that is better adapted to environmental changes (rare)
example giraffe mutated to have longer neck. they have phenotype that gives them long necks
this is an advantage as they can reach food on high trees.
What is the difference between coding DNA and non-coding DNA?
Coding DNA codes for proteins
Non-coding DNA does not code for proteins
What is mutation in coding DNA?
- Changes in proteins produced from transcription and translation.
- Affects protein structure/function
What is mutation in non-coding DNA?
- NON-CODING = regions of DNA that don’t code for protein sequences
- Either “switches on/off” certain genes which affects the amount of the protein produced.
What are the different types of mutation?
- Substitution - one nucleotide is substituted for another e.g T turns into G
- Insertion - new nucleotide inserted into the gene e.g it was ATGACG turns into ATAGACG (another A in inserted between T and G)
- Deletion - part of DNA isnt copied ; likely to affect shape and function of protein
e.g ATGAC turn into AGAC (T has been deleted)
Out of the 3 types of mutation which is the least severe
Substituion
Out of the 3 types of mutation which is the most severe
Deletion and insertion