What is a mutation?

Question

....List causes of mutations?

...Describe each of the following mutations:

....point (or base)

...neutral

...nonsense

....frameshift

Answer 1

A mutation is a change to the genetic code (DNA) of an organism

They can be caused by countless number of things, including but not limited to chemicals, UV radiation, viruses and polymerase error

Point mutations affect a single base

neutral mutations do not affect the protein product of the gene, usually because the mutation is in the third base (wobble position) of a codon

Nonsense mutations introduce stop codons ahead of where they normally would occur and stop protein production

Frameshift mutations add or delete 1 or 2 bases, such that the reading frame is bumped forward or backwards. This results in a non-functional protein in most cases.

Answer 2

A permanent change, a structural alteration, in the DNA or RNA. Mutations can be caused by many factors including environmental insults such as radiation and mutagenic chemicals. Mutations are sometimes attributed to random chance events.

Answer 3

Mutation is first scientifically defined by von Neumann in his work Theory of Reproducible Automata. Translated to biological terms it is the change in reproductive gene code so that it has a permanent influence on offspring. The genetic code describes the offspring. If this code is changed (mutation) the offspring will turn different from the one with non-changed code.