What is the source for a mutant gene, where does it come from?
2007-03-28 03:46:31 · 3 answers · asked by AJ B 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Mainly mutations happen during DNA replication because the DNA polymerases are not error-free. Some polymerases are more error-prone than others, in fact. In mammals and other higher eukaryotes, the major DNA polymerase (DNA pol delta) makes errors with a frequency of 10(-3)-10(-4) (about). However, polymerases do correct most of these errors thanks to their proof-reading activity, i.e. they "come back" onto the portion of DNA that they have repliated and "check" for mismatches. A few errors still escape this process, but they are eliminated by the proteins of the mismatch repair complex (MMR), which scan the DNA for misalignments, chop the bad portion of DNA and induce re-synthesis of that portion.
If all this fail, then you have a mutation, and a mutant gene!
2007-03-28 03:59:00 · answer #1 · answered by Jesus is my Savior 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when a man and women love each other they do the happy pants dance and things happen... and when things happen and the genes line up they dont always fit correctly and that causes a mutant gene...
2007-03-28 03:56:54 · answer #2 · answered by you_ate_my_poptart 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Mutation is a naturally occuring phenomenon.
2007-03-28 04:10:13 · answer #3 · answered by King 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋