Mutation

Key Stage 4

Meaning

A mutation is a change to the DNA in a cell which causes a new variant of a gene.

About Mutations

Mutations occur randomly so they cannot be predicted.

Most mutations are errors which occur during DNA replication in cell division. However, some can occur due to DNA becoming damaged by ionising radiation.

Mutations affect gene expression. Since genes act as templates for building protein, if a gene has been altered by mutation the proteins will also be changed.

Mutations lead to the proteins, coded for by a gene, to have a different shape and function. A mutation may cause the active site of an enzyme to change, leading to a substrate no longer fitting in the active site or, in rare cases, a different substrate fitting the active site.

References

AQA

Deletions (mutations), page 86, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA

Mutation, gene or cell, page 122, GCSE Physics; Student Book, Collins, AQA

Mutations, page 73, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA

Mutations, pages 187-8, 200, GCSE Biology, Hodder, AQA

Mutations, pages 231, 232, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Biology, CGP, AQA

Mutations, pages 249, 250, 283, GCSE Biology, CGP, AQA

Mutations, pages 48, 266, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 2, Hodder, AQA

Mutations, pages 78, 114, 206-207, 220-221, GCSE Biology; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA

Mutations, pages 86, 95, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA

Edexcel

Mutations, page 30, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel

Mutations, pages 35, 42, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel

Mutations, pages 50-51, 351, 368, GCSE Combined Science, Pearson Edexcel

Mutations, pages 60, 70-71, GCSE Biology, Pearson, Edexcel

Mutations, pages 87, 106, GCSE Physics, Pearson Edexcel

Mutations, pages 93, 94, 118, 119, GCSE Biology, CGP, Edexcel

OCR

Mutations (in DNA), pages 67, 73, Gateway GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR

Mutations, pages 49, 54, Gateway GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR