Genetic Code And Mutation

Table of Contents

• Mutation
• Point Mutation
• Frameshift Mutation

The translation is the process of the conversion of nucleic acid information into amino acids. This genetic information is encrypted in the form of a code called genetic code or codon. The genetic code is a set of information encoded in the sequence of nucleic acids that does the coding for proteins to be synthesized. Any change in genetic codes might lead to mutation.

Let us understand mutation in terms of genetic codes.

Genes are the functional units of the heredity of organisms. The sudden change in the DNA sequence is called a mutation. It is mainly responsible for the structural and functional changes and for the variation in organisms which could be good or bad. Even a minute change in the DNA sequence could alter the amino acids to be produced and proteins to be synthesized.

The genetic code is a dictionary that corresponds with the sequence of nucleotides and sequence of the Amino Acids

The phenomenon of change occurring within the DNA sequence is termed as the mutation. This is mainly caused either by the internal factors or through external factors, including smoking, UV rays, etc. Apart from these factors, there are other causes for the DNA variation in an organism, and it is the recombination. Mutation leads to the alteration in the expression of the genotype and phenotype. Eventually, this might affect cells or even damage the organism.

DNA sequences build the genes of organisms which in turn encode for particular proteins. Any fluctuation in this sequence, for example, mishaps during DNA transcription, might lead to a change in the genetic codes, which alter the protein synthesis.

There are different types of mutation and are mainly based on the range of alternation. It could begin with a single base pair to a segment of DNA.

A variation which is caused by the change in the building block and base pair of DNA is termed as a point mutation. An example of point mutation is Sickle cell anaemia.

The sickle cell anaemia is a disease condition caused due to the change in a single base pair of the gene. In this condition, the codon for the amino acid glutamate is replaced by that for valine.

When the reading frame of the genetic code is altered by the insertion or deletion of one or two bases, it is called frame-shift mutation.

MAN AND THE RED SEA

MAN CAN DTH ERE DSE A

MAN CAA NDT HER EDS EA

MAN CAT AND THE RED SEA

In the above statement, the insertion of each letter altered the reading frame of the statement. Deletion of each letter could also lead to the frameshift mutation.

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