Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Biology

Chapter

Principles of Inheritance and Variation

Question:

Point mutations means:

Options:

Change in one base pair

Change in one allele

Change of base pair at a location without any significance

Addition or deletion of codons in multiple of three at a point

Correct Answer:

Change in one base pair

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option (1)- Change in one base pair

Mutation is a phenomenon which results in alteration of DNA sequences and consequently results in changes in the genotype and the phenotype of an organism. In addition to recombination, mutation is another phenomenon that leads to variation in DNA. One DNA helix runs continuously from one end to the other in each chromatid, in a highly supercoiled form. Therefore loss (deletions) or gain (insertion/duplication) of a segment of DNA, result in alteration in chromosomes. Since genes are known to be located on chromosomes, alteration in chromosomes results in abnormalities or aberrations.

Mutation also arise due to change in a single base pair of DNA. This is known as point mutation. A classical example of such a mutation is sickle cell anemia