Genetic mutation

Genetic mutation (pronunciation: /dʒɪˈnɛtɪk mjuːˈteɪʃən/) is a permanent alteration in the DNA sequence that makes up a gene, such that the sequence differs from what is found in most people.

Etymology

The term "genetic mutation" is derived from the Latin word 'mutatio', meaning 'a changing' or 'an alteration', and the Greek word 'genetikos', meaning 'origin'.

Definition

Genetic mutations can occur in two ways: they can be inherited from a parent or acquired during a person's lifetime. Mutations that are passed from parent to child are called hereditary mutations, while those that occur in the course of a lifetime are called acquired mutations or somatic mutations.

Types of Genetic Mutations

There are several types of genetic mutations, including:

Point mutation: A change in one base pair of the DNA sequence of a gene.
Insertion mutation: The addition of extra DNA into a particular spot in the genome.
Deletion mutation: A part of the DNA sequence is lost during DNA replication.
Duplication mutation: A type of mutation that involves duplication of a region of DNA that contains a gene.
Frameshift mutation: These mutations occur when the addition or loss of DNA bases changes a gene's reading frame.

Related Terms

Genome: The complete set of genes or genetic material present in a cell or organism.
Allele: One of two or more versions of a gene that are found at the same place on a chromosome.
Chromosome: A thread-like structure of nucleic acids and protein found in the nucleus of most living cells, carrying genetic information in the form of genes.
Nucleotide: The basic building block of nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA.