If an incorrect nucleotide is incorporated into a forming strand of DNA?

Question

Will this mistake be transmitted to the next generation of DNA molecules that forms from this strand???

Answer 1

It depends. DNA had excellent proofreading systems that double check nucleotide sequences. If an incorrect nucleotide is entered in a new strand, then, a polymerase should come along and fix it before it's completely separated. If the incorrect nucleotide is missed (this happens about once ever 1,000,000 times) then yes, it'll be put into the next generation.

Answer 2

Not necessarily. One must consider spliceosomes which determine the exons and introns of a given genetic strand and thereby determine whether that particular portion with the error will be included to be replicated. Also DNA replicase and several other proteins involved in replication will need to miss this error in order for it to be transmitted to the next generation (DNA polymerase for example is known for excision repair, whereby it cuts out the incorrect nucleotide and puts in the correct one with the help of ligase). Likewise this nucleotide may not be on the template strand, which is the DNA segment used to generate copies. DNA in general is copied continuously and when an error is spotted it is often ignored because another strand is used in its stead or endonucleases may cut up this now error-riddled segment. (I am purposely circumlocuting the fact that many mistakes are utterly irrelevant because of the redundancy of DNA strands)

Answer 3

Yes, the wrong DNA will be passed on when the DNA replicates again. The two sides of the DNA serve as a template for the new molecules, so the template is wrong and the mistake will go on and on.

Answer 4

it's a mutation
some can be transmitted and others not