Mutation Question

[aquashark]

Which type of genetic mutation is most dangerous and why, point mutation, insertion mutation, and deletion mutation? Thanks!

[thank.darwin]

I would say both insertion mutation and deletion mutation - DNA is read in triplets so everything would get moved forward or backwards... Here is an example...

THE OLD DOG RAN AND THE FOX DID TOO

if you add in a random S look what happens...

THE OLD SDO GRA NAN DTH EFO XDI DTO O

or a deletion...

THE OLD OGR ANA NDT HEF OXD IDT OO

Hope that helps

[Poison]

I don't think you can say point mutations are less important than others.
The example about the sentence is good but think that some point mutations may not be tolerated too.
I may be wrong, but if anyone has more proof (not like a sentence but a proof from life) about insertion mutation and deletion mutation are more dangerous than point mutation, I would be very happy to know that.

[biostudent84]

I would say both insertion mutation and deletion mutation - DNA is read in triplets so everything would get moved forward or backwards... Here is an example...

THE OLD DOG RAN AND THE FOX DID TOO

if you add in a random S look what happens...

THE OLD SDO GRA NAN DTH EFO XDI DTO O

or a deletion...

THE OLD OGR ANA NDT HEF OXD IDT OO

Hope that helps

I think the best way to explain it, Poison is to use the sentence example first...

Our normal genome:
THE OLD DOG RAN AND THE FOX DID TOO

You've seen what happens when there is an addition or deletion. But if there is simple substitution...watch:

THE LLD DOG RAN AND THE FOX DID TOO

See? Only one word, or in the case of a genome--codon--was rendered incorrect. In an addition or deletion, we have what is called a frame shift mutation which changes the entire way DNA is read. With a substitution, only one protein in the sequence will be potentially incorrect.

And since an average of three codons code for every amino acid, there is a chance that, with a substitution, a mutation might not even affect the protein to be made.

[aquashark]

Thanks everybody for helping!

[Poison]

OK. Now I think you are right. but can you give me an example from real life? Just wondering if there is a proper example for this.

[biostudent84]

Yes there is, but I'm in class right now...I'll type one out as soon as I get out. We're going over this in Genetics 301 now.

[Poison]

OK. Thanks. looking forward for a reply from you...