What is a mutation?
A mutation is a change in the base sequence of DNA.
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Which things increase the risk of mutations occurring?
1Carcinogens - chemicals that can cause cancer.
2Certain types of radiation (such as x-rays and gamma rays).
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Will a risk factor always cause a mutation?
No, risk factors only increase the chance of mutations occurring.
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What does it mean for a gene to be 'expressed'?
If a gene is 'expressed' then it is 'switched on'.
It means that the cell is actively producing the proteins that the gene codes for.
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What is non-coding DNA?
Non-coding DNA is DNA that does not code for proteins.
Non-coding DNA often has a role in switching genes on and off, so mutations in these areas of DNA may affect how genes are expressed.
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Are mutations more likely to occur in coding or non-coding DNA?
In non-coding DNA, as most of DNA is non-coding.
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If a gene has a mutation, what could happen to the protein it codes for?
The change in the base sequence could cause a different sequence of amino acids to be coded for.
This could cause the protein to fold into a different shape, which could mean that it can no longer carry out its function.
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