Mutation (Edexcel IGCSE Biology)

Mutations

Spec point — 4.34 · understand that mutation is a rare, random change in genetic material that can be inherited

• Mutations are rare, random changes that occur in the sequence of DNA bases in a gene or a chromosome

• Mutations can be inherited

• They occur continuously

• As the DNA base sequence determines the sequence of amino acids that make up a protein, mutations in a gene can sometimes lead to a change in the protein that the gene codes for

  • Most mutations do not alter the protein or only alter it slightly so that its appearance or function is not changed