What is a mutation

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What is a mutation?

• Adult education activity

http//technolog.it.umn.edu/technolog/issues/fall
2004/genome.htm
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Definition of a Mutation

• Any change in genetic material.

www.virtualsciencefair.org/
3
What do we do if there is a change?

• Some changes are responsible for causing disease,
  but it is necessary to have some changes to have
  variation in the population
• Examples flowers, kittens, finch beaks, noses
  and ears, and freckles

4
How does our genetic material change?

• Mutations may happen in big or little chunks
  through rearrangements, additions, or
  subtractions of material

5
How many genes do this?

• Any gene has the potential to mutate
• Can happen anywhere
• Only mutations that happen in the sperm or eggs
  may be passed on to your children
• Most mutations dont change your bodys function,
  these are called silent mutations

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What kinds of mutations are there?

• Point mutations simplest change, one nucleotide
  is exchanged for another
• Mis-sense mutations changes the triplet codon
  making a different amino acid appear
• Frameshift one or two nucleotides are inserted
  or deleted which changes all codons beyond that
  point
• Nonsense an early stop codon is made
• Regulatory change in a sequence important to
  make proteins

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Quiz Time!
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Question 1

• A mutation may happen in any gene.
• TRUE OR FALSE?

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Question 1 Answer

• If you answered True then.you are CORRECT!

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Question 2

• Which of these is NOT a type of mutation.
• a) Point mutation
• b) Flyaway mutation
• c) Frameshift mutation
• d) Nonsense mutation

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Question 2 Answer

• If you answered B.you are CORRECT!

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What causes a mutation?

• Copy mistakes
• Mutations are a natural part of the cellular
  process reproduction. The cell has tools that
  catch and repair 99.9 of mutations.
• Other factors may cause extra mutations to occur
  or damage the catch and repair mechanism
• Some mutations are the second hit to a cell, for
  example freckles have a mutation already and
  another mutation makes the cell potentially
  cancerous

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What are the other factors?

• These factors may include radiation, chemical
  exposures, UV light (sunlight)

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How do I stop this?

• We are all mutants. The best way to prevent
  excessive and dangerous mutations is to avoid
  prolonged UV light from the sun (use sunblock),
  avoid pesticides and other mutagens, and limit
  radiation levels to federally acceptable levels.

15
Quiz Time!
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Question 1

• 1) Which of the following may cause
• mutations?
• a) Coffee
• b) UV light (sun light)
• c) Hair gel
• d) Vaccines

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Question 1 Answer

• If you answered B.you are CORRECT!

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Question 2

• 2) Most mutations are caught and repaired in the
  cell.
• TRUE or FALSE?

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Question 2 Answer

• If you answered True.you are CORRECT!

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Question 3

• 3) What is a mutation?
• a) Any change in genetic material
• b) When the sun is directly behind the moon
• c) A small green and black frog from Brazil
• d) A way the body kills invading
  cells

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Question 3 Answer

• If you answered A then you are.CORRECT!

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LEARN MORE

• You may use these sites to learn more about
  mutations, genetics, genomics, and DNA
• http//www.genome.gov
• http//www.cdc.gov/genomics/training/GPHP/default.
  htm

http//www.biology-online.org/
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Picture References

• http//technolog.it.umn.edu/technolog/issues/fall2
  004/genome.htm
• www.virtualsciencefair.org/
• http//www.biology-online.org/