Chapter 24, Problem 101A

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation : The type of gene mutation that causes more damage to an organism is to be explained.

Concept Introduction : A mutation is a change in the base pair sequence of our DNA caused by external influences like UV light or errors made during DNA replication.

Answer to Problem 101A

Addition mutation causes more damage to an organism.

Explanation of Solution

A substitution mutation is one in which one base is substituted for another base.

A substitution mutation can significantly alter the proteins an organism produces.

The DNA molecule is read by the reading proteins in units of three base pairs at a time.

Each of these codons designates a distinct amino acid.

An addition mutation is one in which a base is added to a sequence of bases.

By introducing one or more nucleotides to the gene, the insertion modifies the DNA's sequence.

Therefore, the protein produced from the gene might not work effectively.

It causes a frame shift, which alters how succeeding codons are read and, as a result, changes the entire amino acid sequence that follows the mutation.

These are more dangerous than substitutions that just change one amino acid.