Mutations

• Mutation


  A change to a base
• Mutations happen all the time
• Mutations that do not change the amino acid sequence

  • Different base triplets can sometimes encode for the same amino acid
  • Mutation has no effect on the protein's shape or function
• Mutations that change the amino acid

  • Alters the shape of a protein
  • Has a dramatic effect on the function of a protein
• Effects of mutations

  • Active site of an enzyme may change shape so it cannot attach to the substrate
  • Changes the shape of a structural protein (like collagen) and may lose its strength
• Non-coding parts of DNA

  Switch genes on and off and tell genes when to produce proteins
• Mutations in non-coding regions

  • Can affect how genes are switched on or off
  • May produce a protein it is not meant to have at that time
• Uncontrolled mitosis leading to cancer


  Significant effect on a cell