Mutations (T)

• What is a mutation in the context of DNA?

  It is a change to a base in the DNA sequence.
• How does a change in the base sequence of DNA affect protein synthesis?

  A change in the base sequence can result in a change in the protein synthesized by a gene.
• What determines the amino acid sequence of a protein?

  • The base sequence of a gene
• Why is the shape of a protein important?

  The shape of a protein determines its function.
• What can happen when a mutation occurs in the DNA sequence?

  A mutation can change the protein's amino acid sequence or have no effect on it.
• What is the effect of most mutations on protein function?

  Most mutations have no effect on the function of the protein.
• How can a mutation affect an enzyme's function?

  A mutation can change the active site shape, preventing substrate binding.
• What are non-coding regions of DNA responsible for?

  • They switch genes on and off
  • They tell genes when to produce proteins
• What could be the consequence of a mutation in a non-coding region of DNA?

  It can lead to genes being improperly activated, potentially causing uncontrolled cell division.
• What is one potential significant effect of uncontrolled mitosis in cells?

  • It can lead to cancer