Gene Mutations

What is a mutation?

• A change in an organisms genetic material

• A change in an organism's physical appearance

• A change in an organism's behavior

• A change in an organism's habitat

Which of the following can experience mutations?

• Only animals and plants

• Only bacteria and viruses

• Any organism with DNA or RNA

• Only organisms with complex cellular structures

A "silent" mutation is

• harmful

• helpful

• neutral

Mutations can be

• harmful, helpful, or neutral

• only helpful or harmful

• only neutral

• only harmful

What is a key characteristic of mutations regarding when they occur?

• They never occur

• They occur when the organism is dying

• They are random

• They occur when an organism needs them

Genes code for proteins that determine different

• traits

• genes

• stages of meiosis

• types of mutations

Which type of gene mutation involves the addition of an extra base into the DNA sequence?

• Substitution

• Deletion

• Insertion

• Translocation

This insertion mutation has caused a _______ to occur.

• gene

• frameshift

• chromosome mutation

• trait