Mutations and Genetic Variation

Mutations

Are changes in the sequence of the DNA.

They produce variation.

A beneficial mutation provide an advantage to

the organism. 🡪 the characteristic becomes more

common over time.

A harmful mutation causes the individual stress.🡪

They do not increase in number.

Neutral mutations 🡪 have no effect on success.

Point Mutations

Occur when there is a mutation at a specific base

pair.

This base substitution may change the code for

an amino acid or it may not.

If the base substitution doesn’t change the

amino acid code 🡪 this is a silent mutation.

Mutations

Frameshift Mutation

Caused by an insertion or deletion of a

nucleotide.

The codon sequence will be altered.

All codons at the addition or deletion and after

will be altered.

Resulting in an incorrect protein being built.