Mutation basics
A change in the nucleotide sequence of DNA that can create a new allele.
What is a mutation?
Environmental influences such as radiation and chemicals that cause DNA changes.
What are mutagens?
Another name for transposons because they can move around within DNA.
What are “jumping genes”?
A mutation involving a change in only one DNA nucleotide.
What is a point mutation?
Mutations involving changes to the structure of chromosomes.
What are chromosomal mutations?
Mutations create this by introducing differences among individuals in a population
What is genetic variation?
Examples of this type of mutagen include X-rays, UV light, and radioactivity.
What is radiation?
Transposons can cause mutations by doing this when they insert themselves into genes.
What is disrupting gene function?
A mutation caused by adding or removing a nucleotide from DNA.
What is a frameshift mutation?
The four major types of chromosomal mutations.
What are deletion, duplication, translocation, and inversion?
This enzyme copies DNA during replication and can correct mismatched base pairs.
What is DNA polymerase?
Chemicals found in some pesticides and cigarette smoke that can damage DNA are examples of these.
What are chemical mutagens?
Transposons have been found in bacteria, plants, fruit flies, and these organisms.
What are humans?
This mutation usually has more severe effects because it changes every codon after the mutation.
What is a frameshift mutation?
A chromosomal mutation where a section of DNA is lost.
What is deletion?
Mutations can be caused by errors in DNA replication, environmental factors, or changes to this structure.
What are chromosomes?
If a mutation occurs in these cells, offspring may inherit the mutation.
What are gametes?
A transposon inserting into a pigment gene in corn can cause kernels to have this appearance.
What is different colors/patterns?
A mutation that does not change the protein’s function or has no observable effect.
What is a silent mutation?
A chromosome mutation where a segment is copied and repeated.
What is duplication?
Although mutations can sometimes be harmful, they are important because they contribute to this process by introducing variation.
What is evolution?
If DNA damage cannot be repaired, cells may undergo this process to prevent damaged cells from surviving.
What is apoptosis?
A transposon movement can sometimes cause this type of mutation by shifting how codons are read.
What is a frameshift mutation?
A point mutation in hemoglobin changes glutamic acid into this amino acid, causing sickle-cell disease.
What is valine?
A mutation where a chromosome segment breaks off and attaches to a different nonhomologous chromosome.
What is translocation?