Mutations

Want to read the rest of this paper? Join Essayworld today to view this entire essay and over 50,000 other term papers

example, GAG or TCA. The four bases can be assembled into 64 possible codons. Because proteins are built from only 20 amino acids, most amino acids are specified by more than one codon.
occur when one base is substituted for another or when one or more bases are inserted or deleted from a gene. Substitution affect only one codon, and in most cases the effect is minimal. One reason is the redundancy of the genetic code mentioned above. Because many codons mean the same thing, the altered codon might still specify the same amino acid. Furthermore, even if a mutation causes a wrong amino acid to be inserted into a protein, the change might be harmless. Most proteins consist of scores of amino acids; a change in one of these may have little or no effect on the biological properties of the protein. Also, almost all higher organisms have two sets of genes--one inherited from each parent. In such organisms, a mutated gene may be recessive and have its effect canceled by a dominant gene. ...

Get instant access to over 50,000 essays. Write better papers. Get better grades. Already a member? Login

CITE THIS PAGE: