Mutations

Question 1

What is a mutation

Answer 1

A change in a gene or chromosome.
It is a rare, random change in the genetic material and it can be inherited.

Question 2

Mutations occur…

Answer 2

Continuously and can be spontaneous

Question 3

Mutations can occur due to…

Answer 3

Ionising radiation
Chemical mutagens such tar from cigarette smoke

Question 4

Ionising radiation that causes mutations include…

Answer 4

Gamma rays
X rays
Ultraviolet rays

Question 5

The great the dose of radiation a cell gets…

Answer 5

The greater the chance of a mutation

Question 6

Mutations can cause different genes to be…

Answer 6

Switched on or off, potentially causing a different or faulty protein to be synthesised

Question 7

If the protein in which a mutation has occurred it an important enzyme…

Answer 7

The specific substrate may no longer fit into the substrate brining site, if it is a structural protein such as collagen it may lose its strength

Question 8

Most dna mutations

Answer 8

Do not alter a protein, only slightly so it’s appearance and function isn’t changed

Question 9

Mutations may change the activity of a protein…

Answer 9

In a coding part of the DNA

Or it might change how the gene are expressed if the change is in a non-coding section of DNA (maybe resulting in the phenotype changing or unnoticed change, or serious consequences such as genetic diseases)

Question 10

4 types of mutation and what they can all do

Answer 10

Inversion (order of bases changes)
Substitution
Deletion
Insertion

Different amino acids being synthesised may lead to a different protein being produced

Question 11

What is a non-coding section of DNA called

Answer 11

Intron