"A mutation is an alteration in the nucleic acid sequence of the genome of an organism, virus, or extrachromosomal DNA."
A change in DNA that results in a new trait or characteristic.
DNA Mutations: This topic helps understand the different types of mutations that occur within DNA sequences and their effects on genetic diversity.
Genetic Drift: It is the random fluctuation in allele frequencies within a population, which can lead to the loss of genetic variation.
Natural Selection: It is the process by which certain traits become more or less common in a population over time. This topic helps understand how mutations can be advantageous or disadvantageous in the context of natural selection.
Gene Flow: Gene flow is the transfer of genetic variation from one population to another. This topic helps understand how gene flow can influence the rate and direction of evolution.
Genetic Variation: Genetic variation refers to the differences in DNA sequences among individuals within a population. This topic helps understand how mutations contribute to genetic variation in a population.
Adaptation: Adaptation is the process by which organisms become better suited to their environment over time. This topic helps understand how mutations can lead to adaptations and new forms of life.
Phylogenetics: It is the study of the evolutionary relationships among organisms. This topic helps understand how mutations can be used to reconstruct evolutionary history.
Mutational Load: Mutational load is the accumulation of harmful mutations within a population. This topic helps understand how the rate of mutation affects the fitness of a population.
Population Genetics: It is the study of the distribution and change of allele frequencies within populations. This topic helps understand how mutations can impact population genetics.
Evolutionary Developmental Biology: It is the study of how genetic and environmental factors interact to influence the development of an organism. This topic helps understand how mutations can lead to changes in developmental processes and morphological structures.
Point mutation: A change in a single nucleotide in the DNA sequence, including substitutions, insertions, and deletions.
Frameshift mutation: Insertions or deletions of nucleotides that shift the reading frame of the genetic code.
Duplication: An extra copy of a segment of DNA, resulting in an increased number of copies of a particular gene or genes.
Inversion: A segment of DNA is flipped in orientation within the chromosome.
Translocation: A segment of DNA is moved from one chromosome to another.
Deletion: A segment of DNA is lost from a chromosome.
Amplification: An increase in the number of copies of a gene or genes.
Silent mutation: A change in the DNA sequence that does not affect protein function or expression.
Missense mutation: A change in the DNA sequence that alters the amino acid sequence of the resulting protein.
Nonsense mutation: A change in the DNA sequence that creates a premature stop codon, resulting in a truncated protein.
Regulatory mutation: A change in the DNA sequence that affects the regulation of gene expression.
Splicing mutation: A change in the DNA sequence that affects the splicing of RNA transcripts.
Retrotransposition: Retroviral-like insertion of transposable elements into the genome.
Mobile insertion: Insertion of mobile genetic elements (transposable elements) into the genome.
Chromosomal mutation: A structural change in the chromosomes, including inversions, translocations, and deletions, that can lead to changes in gene expression and regulation.
"Viral genomes contain either DNA or RNA."
"Mutations result from errors during DNA or viral replication, mitosis, or meiosis."
"Mutations may undergo error-prone repair (especially microhomology-mediated end joining), cause an error during other forms of repair, or cause an error during replication (translesion synthesis) due to damage to DNA (such as pyrimidine dimers caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation)."
"Mutations may also result from insertion or deletion of segments of DNA due to mobile genetic elements."
"Mutations may or may not produce detectable changes in the observable characteristics (phenotype) of an organism."
"Mutations play a part in both normal and abnormal biological processes including: evolution, cancer, and the development of the immune system, including junctional diversity."
"Mutation is the ultimate source of all genetic variation, providing the raw material on which evolutionary forces such as natural selection can act."
"Mutations in genes can have no effect, alter the product of a gene, or prevent the gene from functioning properly or completely."
"If a mutation changes a protein produced by a gene, the result is likely to be harmful, with an estimated 70% of amino acid polymorphisms that have damaging effects, and the remainder being either neutral or marginally beneficial."
"Organisms have mechanisms such as DNA repair to prevent or correct mutations by reverting the mutated sequence back to its original state."