Mutations

Mutation Basics & Types

100

These are defined as heritable changes in genetic information.

Mutations

200

Mutations fall into these two basic, broad categories.

Gene mutations and chromosomal mutations

300

This specific category of mutation is defined as a change in a single nucleotide

Point mutation

400

Point mutations are divided into this exact number of types

Three

Point & Chromosomal Mutations

100

In this specific type of point mutation, one base is changed to a different base

Substitution

200

This type of mutation occurs when a single extra base is added into the genetic code.

Insertion mutation

300

This type of point mutation happens when a single base is removed from the genetic code.

Deletion mutation

400

Deletion, duplication, inversion, and translocation are the four types of this category of mutation.

Chromosomal mutations

Environmental & Health Effects

100

These three outcomes describe the impact mutations can have on an organism

Harming, helping, or having no effect

200

This term describes the chemical or physical agents in the environment from which some mutations arise.

Mutagens

300

Some of the most harmful mutations are those that dramatically change these two specific things.

Protein structure or gene activity

400

This specific condition is an example of a harmful mutation that affects the shape of red blood cells

Sickle cell disease

500

Beneficial mutations often produce proteins with new or altered functions that can be useful to organisms in these kinds of environments.

Different or changing environments