What is the term for a random error in gene replication that results in a nucleotide sequence change?

What is the term for a random error in gene replication that results in a nucleotide sequence change?

• A. Deletion
• B. Translocation
• C. Mutation
• D. Duplication

Answer: (C)

Mutation is the term for a random error in DNA replication that changes the nucleotide sequence. When DNA polymerase makes a mistake or the repair system slips, a change can be introduced in the sequence, such as a base substitution, insertion, or deletion. These sequence changes can occur in single genes or larger genomic regions and may arise spontaneously or from environmental mutagens. The other terms describe more specific kinds of DNA alterations: deletion refers to loss of a DNA segment, translocation to a different chromosome location, and duplication a repeated DNA segment. While these are types of mutations, the general term for any nucleotide-sequence change caused by replication errors is mutation.

Mutation is the term for a random error in DNA replication that changes the nucleotide sequence. When DNA polymerase makes a mistake or the repair system slips, a change can be introduced in the sequence, such as a base substitution, insertion, or deletion. These sequence changes can occur in single genes or larger genomic regions and may arise spontaneously or from environmental mutagens. The other terms describe more specific kinds of DNA alterations: deletion refers to loss of a DNA segment, translocation to a different chromosome location, and duplication a repeated DNA segment. While these are types of mutations, the general term for any nucleotide-sequence change caused by replication errors is mutation.