Mutation and Molecular Evolution

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to mutation and molecular evolution.

Genome

The full set of genes plus noncoding regions of DNA in an organism.

Mutations

Changes in the nucleotide sequence of DNA that can lead to changes in the amino acid sequence of proteins.

Endogenous factors

Internal factors that cause mutations, such as replication errors and DNA base mismatches.

Exogenous factors

External influences that can cause mutations, including radiation and toxins.

Synonymous substitution

A mutation that does not change the amino acid sequence of a protein.

Nonsynonymous substitution

A mutation that results in a change in the amino acid sequence of a protein.

Homologous features

Characteristics shared by two or more species that have been inherited from a common ancestor.

Gene duplication

A process that can lead to the creation of gene families via successive rounds of duplication and mutation.

Concerted evolution

The evolution of genes that occurs in concert, where all members of a gene family evolve together.

Gene tree

A diagram used to show the evolutionary relationships of a single gene across different species.