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Types of Mutations definitions

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  • Spontaneous Mutation
    Originates from random errors during DNA replication, not influenced by external factors or agents.
  • Induced Mutation
    Results from exposure to external agents like UV radiation or chemicals, often used in laboratory studies.
  • Somatic Cell Mutation
    Occurs in non-reproductive cells, affecting only the individual and not passed to offspring.
  • Germ Cell Mutation
    Arises in reproductive cells, enabling transmission to future generations and potentially impacting many.
  • Point Mutation
    Involves alteration of a single nucleotide, which can lead to various effects on protein coding.
  • Transition
    A base substitution where a purine replaces a purine or a pyrimidine replaces a pyrimidine.
  • Transversion
    A base substitution where a purine is swapped with a pyrimidine or vice versa, altering base pairing.
  • Insertion
    Addition of one or more nucleotides into a DNA sequence, potentially shifting the reading frame.
  • Deletion
    Removal of one or more nucleotides from a DNA sequence, which can disrupt codon alignment.
  • Indel
    A mutation involving both insertion and deletion events, possibly altering gene length and function.
  • Silent Mutation
    A nucleotide change that does not alter the encoded amino acid, leaving protein function unaffected.
  • Missense Mutation
    A nucleotide change that results in a different amino acid, possibly altering protein properties.
  • Nonsense Mutation
    A nucleotide change that introduces a premature stop codon, truncating the protein product.
  • Frameshift Mutation
    An insertion or deletion that alters the reading frame, drastically changing downstream amino acids.
  • Base Distortion
    Structural alteration of DNA bases, often from chemical changes, disrupting normal base pairing.
  • Depurination
    Loss of a purine base from DNA, creating an apurinic site and increasing mutation risk.
  • Deamination
    Removal of an amino group from a base, converting cytosine to uracil and altering base pairing.
  • Oxidative Damage
    DNA alteration caused by reactive oxygen species, leading to base modifications and mutations.
  • Loss of Function Mutation
    Reduces or eliminates protein activity, potentially resulting in a nonfunctional gene product.
  • Gain of Function Mutation
    Enhances or creates new protein activity, sometimes leading to novel or excessive function.
  • Null Mutation
    Completely abolishes protein function, resulting in zero activity from the affected gene.
  • Conditional Mutant
    Displays a mutant phenotype only under specific environmental conditions, such as temperature.
  • Lethal Mutation
    Causes organismal death, often preventing development or survival beyond early stages.
  • Neutral Mutation
    Has no observable effect on phenotype, often occurring in noncoding regions or as silent changes.
  • Hypomorphic Mutation
    Reduces but does not eliminate gene function, resulting in partial protein activity.
  • Hypermorphic Mutation
    Increases gene function, producing more or more active protein than normal.
  • Neomorphic Mutation
    Confers a novel function or phenotype not previously observed for the gene.
  • Suppressor Mutation
    Counteracts the effect of another mutation, restoring or improving the original phenotype.
  • Intragenic Suppressor
    Occurs within the same gene as the original mutation, mitigating its effects.
  • Intergenic Suppressor
    Arises in a different gene, compensating for or blocking the impact of another mutation.