GENE MUTATION

                     

A gene mutation is a permanent alteration  in the DNA sequence that makes up a gene such that the sequence differs from what is found in most people . mutations range in size they can affect anywhere from a single DNA building block (base pair) to a large  segment of a chromosome that includes  multiple genes.

Mutations are changes in the genetic sequence and they are a main cause of diversity among organism. These changes occur at many different levels and they can have widely differing consequences. In biological systems that are capable of reproduction . For mutations to affect an organisms decendants they must;

·       occur in cells that produce the next generation

they affect the hereditary material.Ultimately the interplay between inherited mutations and environmental pressures generates diversity among species.

 Although various forms of molecular changes occur the word mutation typically refers to a change that affects the nucleic acids.in cellular organisms the nucleic acids aer the building blocks of DNA and in viruses theybare the buildinb blocks of either the DNAorRNA.one way to think of DNA and RNA is that they are substances that carry long term memory of the information required for an organisms reproduction.

If mutation occur in non germline cells,then  this changes

Can be categorized as somatic mutation. The word somatic comes from the greek word SOMA which means “body”,and somatic mutation only affects the present organism body.from an evolutionary perspective somatic mutation are uninteresting,unless they occur systematically and change fundamental property of an individual such as capacity for survival for example,cancer is potent somatic mutatiom that will affect an organism survival.as a direct focus evolutionary theory

 Is mostly interested in DNA chsnges in the cells that produce the next generation.

Genes are the working subunits of DNA,and each gene contains a particular set of instruction usually coding for a particular function.each gene has a special job to do the DNA in genes spells out specific instructions for making proteins in the cells.proteins are the building blocks for everything in the body.

Gene mutation being the subject of study is the changing of the structure of gene rssulting in various form.which may be transmitted to the subsequent generation,caused by alterations of single base unit in DNA or deletion ,insertion of rearrangement of larger sections of genes or chrosomes.

 It can also be said to be a permanent alteration in the DNA sequence that makes up a gene,in such a way that the sequence varies from that which is found in most people.

Mutation ranges in size i.e they can affect anywhere from a single DNA building block i.e a base pair to a large segment to a chromosome that includes multiple genes.mutation is a natural process that changes a DNA series which is more common than one can think.as a cell copies its DNA before dividing a “typo” occurs every 100,000 or so nucleotide that is about 120,000 typos each time our cell divide.

Most commonly a single base is substituted for another.sometimes a base is deleted or a base is added.fortunately a cell is able to repair most of this changes when a DNA changes that will become an egg or a sperm is unpaired in a cell, it is passed down to offspring.thanks should be accorded to mutation because we have some new variationsthat were not present in our parent.

People commonly use the term “mutant” and “mutation” to describe something undesirable or broken.but mutation is not always a negative occurance,it’s positive side is that it paves way for new variation which is not present in our parent.Most DNA falls i

n the large area of the genome that sits between the genes and usually they have no effect.whenever a variation occurs within genes,there is often a consequence,but even then mutation only rarely causes death or diseases.More often,murtation give rise to variation that are good or bad.

ADVANTAGES OF MUTATION

·        it generates a new variation that can give an individual survival advantage.

·        It brings about uniqueness in an individual eg.human hair colour ,height,shape,behaviour and susceptibility to disease.

·        Because of mutation which brings about variation,the population change over time is helped.

when a DNA changes that will become an egg or a sperm is unpaired in a cell, it is passed down to offspring.thanks should be accorded to mutation because we have some new variationsthat were not present in our parent.

People commonly use the term “mutant” and “mutation” to describe something undesirable or broken.but mutation is not always a negative occurance,it’s positive side is that it paves way for new variation which is not present in our parent.Most DNA falls i

n the large area of the genome that sits between the genes and usually they have no effect.whenever a variation occurs within genes,there is often a consequence,but even then mutation only rarely causes death or diseases.More often,murtation give rise to variation that are good or bad.

ADVANTAGES OF MUTATION

Mutation have been responsible for antibiotics and resisitance in bacteria, sickle cell resistance to malaria and immunity to HIV among others.

A rare gene mutation known as Laron Syndrome(unusual shortness of height )are protected against cancer and diabetes .

It brings about variation eg .hair colour, baldness ,freckless and beauty spots .