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How does a mutation affect the whole genome of an organism?

Because surely that mutation only happens in one cell, meaning it practically leaves no change right? Can someone clear some things up for me here.
Define a mutation?
Original post by mansnothot
Define a mutation?

A random change in an organisms DNA & therefor gene.
Original post by TheCoolStool
A random change in an organisms DNA & therefor gene.


and what is a gene...
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Avatar for MKaur18
MKaur18
21
Original post by TheCoolStool
Because surely that mutation only happens in one cell, meaning it practically leaves no change right? Can someone clear some things up for me here.


Mutations are changes in the genetic sequence. They can be heritable; some mutations affect only the individual that carries them. While others affect all of the carrier organism's offspring, and further descendants.

There are beneficial ones and harmful ones. They can harm you for example cystic fibrosis.

Hope that helps.
A mutation can affect a whole organism if that mutation happens in a sex cell - an egg or a sperm - which is then fertilised and becomes an entire organism. This is known as a germline mutation.

Alternatively, a somatic (that is, not in a sex cell; literally ''bodily'' ) mutation can affect a whole organism because all of that cell's offspring will also carry the mutation - this is how cancer happens. In that case not all of the organism's cells carry the mutation and the mutation is not heritable, but can obviously still affect the organism.
(edited 5 years ago)
Original post by mansnothot
and what is a gene...

A small section of DNA located on a chromosome which codes for a specific protein, can you answer plox?
Original post by TheCoolStool
A small section of DNA located on a chromosome which codes for a specific protein, can you answer plox?


Yes so if the order of bases change due to a mutation, a different protein is coded for. Proteins such as regulatory proteins can control expression of genes.
Reply 8
Avatar for kkboyk
kkboyk
21
Mutations occurs in the genome. The sequence of DNA in the genome determines the organisms characteristics, so any changes in that sequence will result in a change in the characteristic

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