Mutations

Front

What are mutations?

Back

Mutations are changes in the DNA sequence of an organism's genome that can lead to variations in traits.

Front

What is an insertion mutation?

Back

An insertion mutation occurs when one or more nucleotide bases are added to a DNA sequence, potentially altering the reading frame.

Front

What is a deletion mutation?

Back

A deletion mutation occurs when one or more nucleotide bases are removed from a DNA sequence, which can also change the reading frame.

Front

What is a substitution mutation?

Back

A substitution mutation is when one nucleotide base is replaced by another in the DNA sequence, which may or may not affect the protein produced.

Front

How do insertion and deletion mutations affect protein synthesis?

Back

They change all of the codons from the mutation on down the line, which alters the amino acid sequence and can lead to nonfunctional proteins.

Front

What is the relationship between mutations and genetic diversity?

Back

Mutations create genetic diversity by introducing new alleles into a population, which can lead to variations in traits.

Front

What is the effect of mutations on the shape of proteins?

Back

Mutations can alter the sequence of amino acids in a protein, which can change its shape and, consequently, its function.

Front

What is translocation in the context of mutations?

Back

Translocation is a type of mutation where a segment of DNA is moved from one location to another within the genome.

Front

What is the significance of the reading frame in mutations?

Back

The reading frame determines how the sequence of nucleotides is divided into codons; mutations that alter the reading frame can lead to completely different proteins.

Front

What is the difference between a frameshift mutation and a point mutation?

Back

A frameshift mutation involves insertion or deletion of nucleotides that changes the reading frame, while a point mutation involves a change in a single nucleotide without altering the reading frame.