MATH 003 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Genetic Variation, Genetic Disorder, Chemotherapy
Document Summary
Mutation: is any sudden and abrupt changes to the genetic or hereditary material of an organism. The changes are usually random and disruptive to the normal functioning of the body. A single nucleotide pair or larger gene segment of a chromosome can be affected by mutation that may result in different phenotype than normal leading to genetic variation. Genetic variation may result in genetic disorder as well. Animals, fungi, plants as well as viruses exhibit mutations. So, we may define mutation as the spontaneous changes that affect the dna or the genes or sometimes complete chromosome. Depending upon the type of mutation that has occurred, treatment may be possible. Cancer is a disease caused by mutations and is treatable through radiation and chemotherapy. Another disease caused by mutated cells is sickle cell anemia which has treatment methods being used currently, but still no cure.
