Mutations Bio Freshmen Year

Mutation

Any change in an organism's genome.

Genetic Variation

Ultimate source of diversity in populations.

Alleles

Different forms of a gene created by mutations.

Causes of Mutations

Factors leading to changes in DNA.

Radiation

Energy that can cause DNA mutations.

Chemical Mutations

Alterations in DNA caused by chemical agents.

Physical/Mechanical Mutations

Mutations resulting from physical damage to DNA.

Transposons

DNA sequences that can change positions within the genome.

Genetic Engineering

Manipulation of an organism's DNA using biotechnology.

Effects of Mutations

Consequences of mutations on organism's fitness.

Positive Mutation

Beneficial change enhancing survival or reproduction.

Neutral Mutation

Change with no significant impact on fitness.

Damaging Mutation

Harmful change reducing organism's fitness.

Lethal Mutation

Mutation causing death of the organism.

Somatic Mutation

Occurs in non-sex cells, affecting descendant cells.

Germinal Mutation

Occurs in gametes, affecting future generations.

Gene Mutation

Change in nucleotide sequence of a gene.

Point Mutation

Change of a single nucleotide in DNA.

Silent Mutation

No change in amino acid sequence.

Missense Mutation

Substitution causing different amino acid in protein.

Nonsense Mutation

Creates a stop codon, truncating protein.

Frameshift Mutation

Insertion or deletion altering reading frame.

Chromosomal Mutation

Involves changes in chromosome structure or number.

Deletion Mutation

Loss of a chromosome segment.

Inversion Mutation

Chromosome segment reverses orientation.

Duplication Mutation

Gene sequence is repeated within a chromosome.

Translocation Mutation

Part of one chromosome moves to another.

Nondisjunction

Failure of chromosomes to separate during meiosis.

Down Syndrome

Condition caused by an extra 21st chromosome.

Turner Syndrome

Disorder from a missing X chromosome.

Klinefelter's Syndrome

Condition with an extra X chromosome (XXY).