6.1.11

Mutations

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Mutations

A mutation is a permanent change in the nucleotide sequence of DNA. Mutations happen continuously and normally only slightly affect proteins or don't affect them at all. Occasionally, a mutation may change the structure or shape of a protein. All genetic variants arise from mutations.

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Undesirable change

  • The outcome of a mutation is almost always detrimental to protein function.
  • For example, in enzymes, the substrate may no longer be able to bind to the active site. In structural proteins, their strength may be reduced.
  • Some regions of DNA do not encode protein sequences.
    • The term given to these sections is non-coding DNA.
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Survival advantage

  • More rarely, a mutation may give a survival advantage, such as resistance to an antibiotic in bacteria.
  • These mutations can be beneficial and represent the foundation of evolution by natural selection.

Jump to other topics

1Cell Biology

1.1What's in Cells?

1.2Cell Division

1.3Transport in Cells

2Organisation

2.1Principles of Organisation

2.2Enzymes

2.3Circulatory System

2.4Non-Communicable Diseases

2.5Plant Tissues, Organs & Systems

3Infection & Response

4Bioenergetics

5Homeostasis & Response

5.1Homeostasis

5.2The Human Nervous System

5.3Hormonal Coordination in Humans

5.4Plant Hormones

6Inheritance, Variation & Evolution

7Ecology

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