mutations

• mutations are changes to the...

  genetic code
• a mutation is a random change in an organisms DNA
• Mutations occur continuously and occur spontaneously
• Mutation chance can be increased by exposure to radiation, chemicals, and viruses
• Mutations change the sequence of DNA bases in a gene which produces a genetic variant
• Mutations can lead to a change in protein that a base codes for
• Most mutations have little or no effect on a protein
• Some mutations can seriously affect proteins, for example changing it's shape which can affect it's ability to perform its function
• Give an example of how a mutation can affect protein function

  If an enzymes active site is changed, a substrate can no longer fit into it.
• Structural proteins like collagen can loose their strength as a result of..


  mutations
• What is an insertion mutation?

  a new base is inserted into the DNA base sequence where it shouldn't be
• An insertion mutation changes the way the groups of three bases are read which can change the amino acids they code for
• Insertion mutations can change more than one amino acid as they have a knock on effect on bases further on in the sequence
• What is a deletion mutation?

  When a random base is deleted from the DNA base sequence
• What is a substitution mutation?

  When a random base in the DNA sequence is changed to a different base