M6: Mutagens

Question 1

mutation?

Answer 1

a change in the genetic material of a cell, which happens when a sequence of nucleotides in DNA is altered

Question 2

endogenous mutagens?

Answer 2

alters gene it codes for therefore protein or RNA end product

Question 3

exogenous mutagens?

Answer 3

changes can be spontaneous or caused by a range of mutagens in environment

Question 4

mutagens?

Answer 4

environmental agents that can cause induced muations in DNA (not spontaneous errors)

Question 5

mutagen groups?

Answer 5

• chemical
• naturally occurring
• Physical mutagens

Question 6

What are chemical mutagens?

Answer 6

chemicals that cause mutagens if cells are exposed to them at high frequencies for long periods of time. can be mistakenly inserted in sequences.

Question 7

What are naturally occurring mutagens?

Answer 7

They exist at normal levels in the natural environment but can increase in exposure time or amount of mutagen presence can cause mutations

Question 8

transposons?

Answer 8

biologically, sections spontaneously fragment, relocate or multiply

Question 9

microbes?

Answer 9

bacteria, viruses can insert their own DNA into the host base sequence, causing gene functioning and often triggering cancers

Question 10

Products from microorganisms?

Answer 10

eg inflammation causing mycotoxins released by fungi can bind and alter DNA

Question 11

Physical mutagens?

Answer 11

radiation, ionising or non-ionising