Genetic Mutations
What is a mutation? A mutation as defined by the dictionary is a sudden change in a heritable characteristic. There a several things that can cause a mutation in someone\'s or something\'s body. A genetic mutation is what causes mutations in an animal or human. To understand what a genetic mutation is and why it occurs, you would have to first understand the basics of DNA, including its structure. However since not everybody has the time to study DNA to learn about genetic mutations, I will try to break it down and explain genetic mutations as thoroughly as possible. First I will give you a little background on the history of genetic mutations. Genetic mutations were first reported in 1901 by Hugo De Vries, a Dutch botanist. In 1929 an American biologist named Hermann Joseph Muller discovered that the rate of genetic mutations can be increases by X rays. Later it was discovered that other forms of radiation, high temperatures, and various chemicals also caused mutations. Another cause of genetic mutation that has been discovered is inbreeding. An example of inbreeding is when a cousin and another cousin have a child. Next I will try to explain how DNA is structured. The backbone of the DNA chain is composed of a
Genetic mutations are a very serious matter. Until I wrote this essay I had no idea how easy it is for a mutation to occur. All that needs to happen for a mutation to occur is an addition of deletion of one single base. The addition of a base will completely alter the gene and cause it to produce the wrong or incorrect amino acids. Although genetic mutations is a serious matter, many times the mutated gene can be masked by a dominate gene. lternating sugar and phosphate groups. In each sugar group there is one of four nitrogenous bases, adenine (A), guanine (G), thymine (T), or cytosine (C). Each DNA molecule is made up of two chains which are linked together by bonds between the bases of one chain and another. An A base is always bonded to a T, and every G base is paired with a C. The way the bases are arranged determines the genetic code of an organism. The genetic code then directs the synthesis of proteins at a cellular level, it is written in units called codons. Each codon specifies a particular amino acid. Each codon is made up of a sequence of three bases, for example you can have GAG, or TCA. The four different bases (A,G,T,and C) can be arranged into sixty-four different codons. Most amino acids are specified by more than one codon because proteins are built from only twenty amino acids. A genetic mutation occurs when one base is substituted for another, or when one or more bases are placed or removed from a gene. A mutation as a result of a substitution of a gene for another affect only one codon, and the affects are usually not too severe. Although mutations caused b
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Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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