4.2 - MUTATIONS (C) MCGRAW HILL RYERSON 2007
INTRODUCTION TEXT P.136 (C) MCGRAW HILL RYERSON 2007
WHAT IS A MUTATION? A gene mutation involves a change in the order of bases (A,C,T,G) that make up the gene. There are several types of gene mutation: Deletion (base missing) Addition (extra base added) Substitution (one base substituted for another) Gene mutations may produce proteins that are beneficial or harmful to the organism, or may have no effect at all. Example: a particular mutated gene produces white coat Kermode bears - they occur as only a small percentage of the population (they are normally black in colour). (C) MCGRAW HILL RYERSON 2007 See pages GNU License Photo
EFFECTS OF MUTATIONS Positive Mutations When a gene mutation benefits the individual with the mutation Example: Some plants have developed resistance to bacterial and fungal infections. Negative Mutations When a gene mutation harms the individual with the mutation Example: Sickle cell genes in affected humans cause blood cells that are abnormally shaped. Neutral Mutation When a gene mutation has no effect on the individual Example: The white Kermode bear Sickle Cell Disease & Gene Therapy Video (Watch first 6 min only): LSnUdyQgziZunLMxACmvuxSn-A0iNZn6A LSnUdyQgziZunLMxACmvuxSn-A0iNZn6A (C) MCGRAW HILL RYERSON 2007 See pages
MUTAGENS & MUTATION REPAIR Mutagens are substances or factors that cause mutations Environmental mutagens include: Mercury cigarette smoke X-rays UV rays certain viruses Correcting mutations is difficult, but new techniques such as gene therapy offer hope. (C) MCGRAW HILL RYERSON 2007 See pages
MUTAGENS & MUTATION REPAIR Gene therapy is complicated and experimental: For a defective gene to be replaced by a normal version of the gene… A virus must be made which can carry the normal gene The virus must be sent into the nuclei of affected cells The replacement gene from the virus must attach to a chromosome of the target cell’s DNA The target cell must read the newly-attached code to make the desired protein, and must make the correct amount of it This therapy is complicated and not always successful. Sickle Cell Disease & Gene Therapy Video (Watch rest of video): Sn-A0iNZn6A Sn-A0iNZn6A General Gene Therapy (C) MCGRAW HILL RYERSON 2007 See pages
(C) MCGRAW HILL RYERSON 2007 E T H I C S