GENETIC MUTATIONS

ARE GENETIC MUTATIONS ALWAYS BAD?

Abstract

This paper will discuss about mutation, and how it occurs, keeping in mind the different sciences and the way they have studied the human body in different ways. The cell level (Genetic) study of Homo sapiens (Humans) is possible because the basis building blocks of living things (DNA molecule) provides a chemical record of humankind's genetic makeup and history of evolution as a process of time. This paper further discusses the contribution of Deoxyribonucleic acid (The thing that makes up all living things, also known as DNA) is a form of acid that contains the genetic (internal) instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms and some viruses. The main role of DNA molecules is the long-term storage of information as it acts as a memory chip, molding living things according to the information stored in it. This is the reason children share the physical and mental characteristic and abilities of their parents, because the information is transferred from the parents to the childrent throught DNA which acts like a internal memory chip. Today we all seem obvious that DNA is the genetic material. But the middle of last century this fact was not at all clear and was one of the discoveries that led to the birth of molecular genetics (Microscopic studies) around 1950. Although DNA replication is very accurate, it is not perfect. Very rarely DNA replication (copying) fails, and new DNA contains one or more differences from the original (nucleotides changed). An error of this type is called mutations an can take place anywhere on the DNA. Many mutations are harmful to the body, while others are often neutral, and some of them under certain conditions may be useful. Most mutations are neutral or harmful and you could even say anything because there are no laboratory tests, which give rise to beneficial mutations.

Are Genetic Mutations Always Bad?

Introduction

The word mutation was adopted by biologists in the early twentieth century to describe significant and sudden changes within species (living things). It refers to living things being mutated over time which may result in the creation of new populations, to the mechanism for random variation in genes (difference in the internal memory\DNA). More generally, the word came to mean a drastic metamorphosis of some kind, and its usage is not limited to biology: Institutions and ideas mutate, transforming into entities with only some resemblance to the original. In the era after World War II, the genetic and somatic effects of testing nuclear weapons gave rise to fears of mutation; popular films portrayed giant insects and other mutants brought about by the atomic age (Siegetsleitner, 2006, pp. 1036-1041).

Chapter 1: What is DNA?

This paper will discuss about mutation, and how it occurs, keeping in mind the different sciences and the way they have studied the human body in different ways. The cell level (Genetic) study of Homo sapiens (Humans) is possible because the basis building blocks of living things (DNA molecule) ...