DNA mutations are changes or errors in the nucleic materials of organisms. There are a variety of ways these can occur, and they can be as dramatic as the effects of radiation to as simple as a mistake in copying cells during reproduction. However they occur, though, the organism that has them will turn out different from others of its species. Depending on the type of mutation, it may actually be beneficial to the creature, and if this happens, the mutation has a likelier chance of spreading through the species, which is one way scientists look at evolution.
The Facts
DNA mutations affect the genetic material of an organism in many different ways. When you look at a string of DNA, you can divide it up into nucleotides, each one connecting to another, and all of them seeming a bit different. The DNA is the same for most organisms, obviously with slight changes. A mutation is a major change, though that duplicates, replaces, or cuts out important nucleotides from a DNA string. The cause of this could be some kind of radiation, or a genetic mutation passed on from family, or even certain viruses. Depending on exactly how the DNA is changed and whether or not the change is beneficial or harmful, there are a number of different types of mutations as well.
Type
There are eight major types of DNA mutations. An adaptive mutation is a beneficial mutation, and scientific research has shown that when a mutation is beneficial to a species, it is more likely to occur. A frameshift mutation involves the deletion or insertion of a nucleotide in a DNA string, while a back mutation is a change in a nucleotide pair (the connecting end of two DNA strands). Further still, there are missense mutations, which are caused when one nucleotide changes into another, and nonsense mutations, which make the protein created by the DNA unusable. Neutral and silent mutations change the DNA makeup, but do not have any real effect on the organism. Finally, there are point mutations, which substitute the base nucleotide for another.
Effects
The results of a DNA mutation vary wide and far, but they all affect an organism physically. Mutations that can be seen easily could be an extra limb or change in skin or fur pigmentation. Mutations can affects organs, including the brain, which in turn causes mental problems, and can lead to an enhanced or impaired sense. The majority of the effects are harmful, but there are a select few that benefit those who have them.
Benefits
There is a small number of DNA mutations that are actually beneficial to the organism. These usually help with the survival of the organism, whether it makes them harder to detect by predators or resistant to a particular disease. Whatever the case, though, beneficial mutations usually give the organism that has those more of a chance to survive, thus giving it more of a chance to pass on the beneficial trait. After this occurs over many generations, the mutation may occur in the majority of the population of a species. This is called evolution.
Risk Factors
Cells depend on a string of proteins to be correctly placed in order to function properly. However, some DNA mutations can affect these protein strings, and when they do, the mutation usually causes problems. When a particular strand of DNA is unable to produce the correct types of proteins, a genetic disorder occurs. These can affect the health of an organism in many ways, and depending on which type of cell is affected, the genetic order could be passed down from generation to generation.
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