Saturday Genetics Quiz #7: Is a gene mutation always bad?
This week’s question: What’s a mutation and is it always bad?
Answer:
Mutations are changes in the DNA sequence as small as one base pair or as significant as losing or gaining an entire chromosome.
Mutations may be caused by the natural process of replicating DNA for cellular growth or by environmental exposures, such as chemicals or radiation.
Sometimes mutations can cause diseases, but other times, our bodies seem able to cope with small changes in the DNA sequences.
The evolution of humans and other living organisms depends on small mutations. It is because of mutations that we have so many unique people on this earth!
For more information on mutations, see this lecture prepared by Jonathan Wolfe at the Galton Laboratory of the University of College London.
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