ABSTRACT

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) changes or mutates altering the characteristics of an existing individual. When the cell containing the replicated DNA divides, each new cell gets its own perfect set of the original DNA. When proteins are made during transcription, the DNA code from one gene is transferred to a strand of Messenger RNA (mRNA). Mutations alter the order of the bases on DNA or Ribonucleic acid (RNA). Mutations occur when mistakes are made during replication or transcription, when bases are exposed to the environment of the cell. After the completion of the Human Genome Project, researchers are surprised to find that long stretches of DNA seemed to have no function. If a mutation alters a protein that is essential to the cell, a genetic disorder can occur. Sometimes when the DNA replicates, an entire gene is copied more than once. Whole sections of DNA may be cut out, bringing together and fusing two genes that were once far apart.