Tag Info

New answers tagged


Short-wave UV light (UVB and UVC) causes transition mutations at dipyrmidine sequences (ref.). In the work presented on KNSTRN quoted by the OP the authors report that 19 from a panel of 100 squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) contained a mutation in KNSTRN (and furthermore three of these contained no other mutation across the six genes that were analysed (Fig. ...


This is actually a bad idea for severeal reasons: First it is not a good idea to tamper with genes, especially not with ones which are involved in the regulation of mitosis and the correct segregation of sister chromatids. Remember that a one amino acid exchange because of a C to T transition causes the problems with SCC? Into what do you want to change the ...


If by "consistent" you mean homogenous, the answer is no. Regions conserved among individuals (and/or species) tend to accumulate less mutations (specially avoiding deleterious mutations). Even within a gene sequence, there are conserved regions which accumulate low number of changes, whereas non-conserved regions accumulate many mutations.


Well, for start, there are "mutational hot spots", regions that are more prone to mutation than others. As for immune system genes, first of all, lung cells and heart cells and retina cells don't need to mutate those genes, because they don't use them. But you are right that in immune cells there is a lot of DNA futzing in the sequences for the heavy and ...


Virus induced gene silencing (VIGS) is definitely an option. The ease of using VIGS depends on a lot of factors. Current VIGS vectors have limited host ranges. Depending on the species of plant that you are working with, there may or may not be suitable, pre-made VIGS vectors available and published techniques for using them. Many of the VIGS vectors that ...


There are many different ways a DNA sequence can change. Labeling a change as a mutation implies that there was a biological process in which DNA was damaged then not properly repaired. Crossing over during the formation of gametes does not result in a mutation. Crossing over during repair of a double stranded DNA break does result in a mutation.


Yes. And it is especially considered a large-scale mutation when compared to point mutations which effect single bases.


Pink individuals of the katydid species Amblycorypha oblongifolia are a relatively uncommon but natural phenomenon with a long history of research. It looks from popular press accounts (Science Friday, Scientific American) that the pink coloration may be caused by a dominant allele, and is only rare because of a high selection pressure against pink ...

Top 50 recent answers are included