ABSTRACT
Mutations are what allow the inheritable traits of a species to permanently change. Inheritable traits may include: height, hair color, arm length, color
vision, etc. Now, some mutations occur in the inactive part of our DNA and have little to no effect. However, mutations in our genes can have a significant effect. Specifically, what effective mutations do is alter the genes in our DNA. Genes are essentially coded instructions on how to make a particular protein in our cells. The instruction code is made up of a string of nucleotides, each representing the base designated by the letters, T, G, A, and C. Remember that the base pairs are always composed of a “T” with an “A” or a “C” with a “G.” It is at the level of the base pair that a mutation occurs. One kind of mutation is substitution. For example, a T-A base pair is substituted for a C-G base pair. A second kind of mutation is insertion. A new base pair is inserted into the string of nucleotides. The third kind of mutation is deletion. Here, a base pair disappears from the string of nucleotides.
