Effects of DNA Mutations
This page delves deeper into the effects of different types of DNA mutations, particularly focusing on point mutations and frameshift mutations.
Point mutations are explained in detail, showing how a change in one base in the DNA sequence can affect the resulting mRNA and polypeptide chain.
Example: In a point mutation, the original DNA sequence "GAU GCG" might be changed to "GAU GGG", resulting in a change from aspartate to glycine in the polypeptide chain.
The page also discusses a real-world example of a point mutation:
Highlight: Sickle Cell Anemia is presented as an example of a genetic disease caused by a point mutation. This mutation interferes with the building of the hemoglobin protein, causing red blood cells to become abnormal. Interestingly, having this mutation also provides protection against malaria.
Frameshift mutations are explained in detail, showing how deletions and insertions can shift the reading frame of the DNA sequence.
Definition: Frameshift mutations change the amino acid sequence starting from the mutation point, often resulting in a non-functional protein.
The page concludes by categorizing the effects of mutations into three main categories:
- Good mutations: resulting in helpful proteins or traits
- Neutral mutations: having no effect (also called silent mutations)
- Bad mutations: causing diseases or being lethal
Vocabulary: A silent mutation is a type of mutation that has no effect on the resulting protein.
The detailed explanations and diagrams on this page provide a comprehensive understanding of what mutation is in Biology and the various types of DNA mutation effects on original sequence.
