7.4 Mutations as the source of new alleles

mutation

a permanent alteration in the DNA sequence of a gene that leads to the formation of new alleles

mutagens

chemical or physical agent that can cause mutation in DNA

somatic cells

all body cells other than the reproductive cells

germline cells

sex cells

Substitution

a gene mutation where one nucleotide is replaced with another

silent mutations

a type of mutation in which a single base change does not change the amino acid and final protein expressed

nonsense mutations

a type of mutation in which a single base change leads to a STOP signal being received, resulting in a truncated protein

missense mutation

a type of mutation in which a single base change leads to the change in the amino acid translated in the protein chain

conservative missense mutation

a type of missense mutation in which the substituted amino acid is similar in properties to the initial amino acid

non-conservative missense mutation

a type of missense mutation in which the substituted amino acid is very different in properties to the initial amino acid

frameshift mutations

type of mutation in which, as a result of insertion or deletion of a base, all codons from that point are affected