Effects of Mutations - Middle School Life Science
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Which option best explains a beneficial mutation: it improves a trait that increases survival or reproduction?
Which option best explains a beneficial mutation: it improves a trait that increases survival or reproduction?
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It increases survival or reproduction. Enhanced traits give organisms advantages in their environment.
It increases survival or reproduction. Enhanced traits give organisms advantages in their environment.
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Identify the most likely outcome of an early stop codon: longer protein, shorter protein, or no protein?
Identify the most likely outcome of an early stop codon: longer protein, shorter protein, or no protein?
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Shorter protein. Stop codons end translation before the protein is complete.
Shorter protein. Stop codons end translation before the protein is complete.
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Which type of mutation usually has the least effect on protein function: silent, missense, or frameshift?
Which type of mutation usually has the least effect on protein function: silent, missense, or frameshift?
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Silent mutation. It doesn't change the amino acid, preserving protein function.
Silent mutation. It doesn't change the amino acid, preserving protein function.
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What is the main reason the same mutation can be beneficial in one environment but harmful in another?
What is the main reason the same mutation can be beneficial in one environment but harmful in another?
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Fitness depends on the environment. What helps in one environment may harm in another.
Fitness depends on the environment. What helps in one environment may harm in another.
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Which type of mutation is most likely to cause a large change in a protein: frameshift or silent?
Which type of mutation is most likely to cause a large change in a protein: frameshift or silent?
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Frameshift mutation. It alters all downstream codons, changing many amino acids.
Frameshift mutation. It alters all downstream codons, changing many amino acids.
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What type of mutation adds one or more nucleotides to a DNA sequence?
What type of mutation adds one or more nucleotides to a DNA sequence?
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Insertion mutation. Extra nucleotides are added into the sequence.
Insertion mutation. Extra nucleotides are added into the sequence.
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What is one reason the same mutation can be beneficial in one environment but harmful in another?
What is one reason the same mutation can be beneficial in one environment but harmful in another?
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Fitness depends on the environment. What helps in one setting may harm in another.
Fitness depends on the environment. What helps in one setting may harm in another.
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Which cells must be mutated for the mutation to be inherited: somatic cells or gametes?
Which cells must be mutated for the mutation to be inherited: somatic cells or gametes?
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Gametes (sex cells). Only mutations in reproductive cells pass to offspring.
Gametes (sex cells). Only mutations in reproductive cells pass to offspring.
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What is a gene mutation?
What is a gene mutation?
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A change in the DNA sequence of a gene. Mutations alter the genetic instructions coded in DNA.
A change in the DNA sequence of a gene. Mutations alter the genetic instructions coded in DNA.
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What is the most direct way a gene mutation can change an organism’s traits?
What is the most direct way a gene mutation can change an organism’s traits?
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By changing the protein made from the gene. Genes code for proteins, which determine traits.
By changing the protein made from the gene. Genes code for proteins, which determine traits.
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Which category describes a mutation that increases survival or reproduction in an environment?
Which category describes a mutation that increases survival or reproduction in an environment?
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Beneficial (positive) mutation. Helps organisms better adapt to their environment.
Beneficial (positive) mutation. Helps organisms better adapt to their environment.
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Which category describes a mutation that decreases survival or reproduction in an environment?
Which category describes a mutation that decreases survival or reproduction in an environment?
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Harmful (negative) mutation. Reduces fitness and reproductive success.
Harmful (negative) mutation. Reduces fitness and reproductive success.
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Which category describes a mutation that does not change an organism’s phenotype?
Which category describes a mutation that does not change an organism’s phenotype?
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Neutral mutation. No observable change in traits or function.
Neutral mutation. No observable change in traits or function.
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What type of mutation removes one or more nucleotides from a DNA sequence?
What type of mutation removes one or more nucleotides from a DNA sequence?
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Deletion mutation. Nucleotides are lost from the sequence.
Deletion mutation. Nucleotides are lost from the sequence.
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Identify the effect category: a mutation causes a nonfunctional protein that disrupts a key body process.
Identify the effect category: a mutation causes a nonfunctional protein that disrupts a key body process.
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Harmful (negative) mutation. Loss of protein function impairs organism survival.
Harmful (negative) mutation. Loss of protein function impairs organism survival.
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Identify the effect category: a mutation changes DNA but the protein and trait stay the same.
Identify the effect category: a mutation changes DNA but the protein and trait stay the same.
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Neutral (no effect on phenotype). Redundant genetic code prevents functional change.
Neutral (no effect on phenotype). Redundant genetic code prevents functional change.
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Which type of cell mutation affects only the individual and is not passed to offspring?
Which type of cell mutation affects only the individual and is not passed to offspring?
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Somatic cell mutation. Body cell mutations die with the organism.
Somatic cell mutation. Body cell mutations die with the organism.
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Identify the effect category: a mutation increases resistance to a disease common in the environment.
Identify the effect category: a mutation increases resistance to a disease common in the environment.
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Beneficial (positive) mutation. Confers survival advantage against environmental threat.
Beneficial (positive) mutation. Confers survival advantage against environmental threat.
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What is the direct effect of a missense mutation on a protein?
What is the direct effect of a missense mutation on a protein?
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It changes one amino acid in the protein. The new codon codes for a different amino acid.
It changes one amino acid in the protein. The new codon codes for a different amino acid.
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What term describes a mutation that has no effect on the organism’s phenotype?
What term describes a mutation that has no effect on the organism’s phenotype?
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Neutral mutation. These mutations don't alter the organism's observable traits.
Neutral mutation. These mutations don't alter the organism's observable traits.
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What is a silent mutation?
What is a silent mutation?
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A DNA change that does not change the amino acid. Multiple codons can code for the same amino acid.
A DNA change that does not change the amino acid. Multiple codons can code for the same amino acid.
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Which option best explains why many mutations have no effect: they occur in coding DNA or noncoding DNA?
Which option best explains why many mutations have no effect: they occur in coding DNA or noncoding DNA?
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Noncoding DNA. Most DNA doesn't code for proteins, so changes there have no effect.
Noncoding DNA. Most DNA doesn't code for proteins, so changes there have no effect.
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What term describes a mutation that increases an organism’s fitness in a given environment?
What term describes a mutation that increases an organism’s fitness in a given environment?
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Beneficial mutation. These mutations improve survival or reproductive success.
Beneficial mutation. These mutations improve survival or reproductive success.
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What term describes a mutation that decreases an organism’s fitness or survival?
What term describes a mutation that decreases an organism’s fitness or survival?
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Harmful (deleterious) mutation. These mutations reduce the organism's ability to survive and reproduce.
Harmful (deleterious) mutation. These mutations reduce the organism's ability to survive and reproduce.
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Which option is most likely neutral: a mutation in an intron or a mutation that adds an early stop codon?
Which option is most likely neutral: a mutation in an intron or a mutation that adds an early stop codon?
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A mutation in an intron. Introns are removed during RNA processing, not affecting proteins.
A mutation in an intron. Introns are removed during RNA processing, not affecting proteins.
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