1. Mutations
In our genes

2. What is a mutation?
A genetic mutation is a change in the order of the base pairs in a gene.
For example, the gene ACCAGATCAAT
may mutate into the gene ACCAGAGCAAT

3. Spirit Bears The spirit bear is a result of a gene mutation
Spirit bears have a mutation in ONE BASE that changes their coat color. Both parents have this mutation and pass it on to their babies.

4. How can a gene change? 1. substitution 2. deletion 3. insertion
4. duplication
5. inversion

5. Are Mutations Bad? Not always!
Mutations sometimes have no effect at all. These are called NEUTRAL MUTATIONS
TCT All 4 of these make SERINE!
TCC
TCG
TCA

6. Neutral Mutation
If a mutation changes something on a organism, but does not increase or decrease its survival, it can also be a NEUTRAL MUTATION.

7. Some Mutations are GOOD
Genes make proteins.
If a mutation makes a better protein that helps the organism survive, then it’s a POSITIVE MUTATION.

8. HIV
Some people have a mutation that protects them against the deadly virus!

9. Some Mutations are BAD
If a mutation causes the organism to not survive or not reproduce, it is a NEGATIVE MUTATION.

10. Sickle-Cell Anemia It’s a single substitution mutation
It causes the protein hemoglobin to change shape.
Why is this dangerous?

11. Hemoglobin Carries Oxygen!
Hemoglobin is in your red blood cells
Red blood cells carry oxygen everywhere in our body
The “C” shape of hemoglobin can’t carry oxygen
What happens to your organs if they don’t get oxygen?

12. Mutagens MUTAGENS CAUSE MUTATIONS IN YOUR DNA!
Write down as many mutagens as you can think of on your work sheet. When you have a good one, come write it on the board. Don’t repeat anyone elses.

13. X rays
Gamma rays
UV radiation
Hydrogen peroxide
Nitrosamines in tobacco
Benzene in drugs, plastics, rubber, and dyes
Mustard gas
Diet
Alcohol
Viruses can insert themselves into DNA
Bacteria, such as Helicobacter Pylori
Aromatic amines in pesticides and cooked meat.
Arsenic
Chromium
Nickel
Asbestos

14. Gene Therapy Gene therapy is very new, and is very difficult to do.
Doctor’s send a good copy of a gene into a nucleus to replace the mutated gene.
How does the gene get in the nucleus?

15. So many things can go wrong…
Just because a gene makes it into the nucleus, does not mean it will be accepted, and will produce proteins.
One good example is inserting genes to make more white blood cells to boost someone’s immune system when they have skin cancer.