Gene + Chromosomal Mutations

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What is a mutation?

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A mutation is a change in the DNA sequence of an organism's genome.

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Are all mutations harmful?

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No, not all mutations are harmful; some can be beneficial or neutral.

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What is a point mutation?

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A point mutation is a change in a single nucleotide in the DNA sequence.

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What is a silent mutation?

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A silent mutation is a type of point mutation that does not change the amino acid sequence of a protein.

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What is a missense mutation?

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A missense mutation is a point mutation that results in the substitution of one amino acid for another in a protein.

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What is a nonsense mutation?

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A nonsense mutation is a point mutation that creates a premature stop codon in the protein sequence.

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What is an insertion mutation?

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An insertion mutation occurs when one or more nucleotide base pairs are added to the DNA sequence.

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What is a deletion mutation?

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A deletion mutation occurs when one or more nucleotide base pairs are removed from the DNA sequence.

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What is a frameshift mutation?

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A frameshift mutation is caused by insertions or deletions that change the reading frame of the genetic code.

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How can mutations benefit organisms?

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Mutations can provide genetic variations that may enhance an organism's ability to adapt to its environment.