mutációt

Mutáció refers to a permanent alteration in the nucleotide sequence of the genome of an organism, virus, or extrachromosomal DNA or other genetic elements. Mutations result from damage to DNA, errors in DNA replication, or the activity of mobile genetic elements. Mutations can be caused by mutagens, which are environmental agents that damage DNA. Some mutations can be benign, while others can be harmful or even beneficial.

Mutations can occur in somatic cells or germ cells. Mutations in somatic cells affect only the individual organism and are not passed on to offspring. Mutations in germ cells are heritable and can be passed on to offspring. The study of mutations is called mutagenesis.

Mutations play a key role in evolution. Without mutations, there would be no genetic variation, and therefore no natural selection. Mutations can lead to the development of new traits, which can be advantageous or disadvantageous to an organism. Over time, these new traits can become more common in a population, leading to evolutionary change.

There are several types of mutations, including point mutations, insertions, deletions, and chromosomal rearrangements. Point mutations involve a change in a single nucleotide base. Insertions and deletions involve the addition or removal of one or more nucleotide bases. Chromosomal rearrangements involve changes in the structure or number of chromosomes. Each type of mutation can have different consequences for an organism.