The accidental changes which occurs in the sequence of deoxyribose nucleic acids (DNA) results in mutation. Mutation occurs in the DNA of cell due to many factors like Mutagenic chemicals, radiation, viruses, transposons and also due to errors which may occur during cell division that is meiosis or replication of DNA. Many a times these are induced by organism itself by the process which is known as hyper mutation.
Mutation can be beneficial as well as harmful. The effect of change in protein sequence due to mutation may be sometimes beneficial in certain circumstances and environments. Many a times the organism has to fight against the extreme conditions (in which he lives) for his survival. And the one which is fittest survive. This fitness many a times occurs due to changes in genomic sequence and results in production of certain proteins or phenotypes which helps this mutant organism to survive in such extreme conditions as compared to its wild type. Such mutants are capable to withstand stressful environments and thus become fit for survival. Such mutation becomes common in the said population and further results in natural selection.
The very interesting example of such mutation which is beneficial is CCR5 mutation in humans. These occur with the deletion of 32 pairs. Such mutation having humans are more resistant to HIV infection and also in their heterozygotes, the onset of AIDS is delayed. Also this type of mutation occurs more in European sides. One reason for this was the resistance of these peoples to bubonic plague which occurred more in Europe than African countries. The frequency of this mutation increased within the population. With the research and development in this field, later it was suggested that the mutation in CCR5 occurred due to smallpox and may not be because of bubonic plague.
Sickle cell disease is another such example of beneficial mutation. Those with one of the alleles out of the two are particularly more resistant to malaria. The reason for this was mutation. The sickle cell disease which is a blood disorder produces abnormal substances similar to hemoglobin which are capable of oxygen carrying within the red blood cells. In sub Sahara Africa, one third of all carry this gene. In this area malaria is common and since the infestation of malarial plasmodium is avoided by cell sickling.
Another benefit of mutation is that, there is development in repair system which occurs naturally within the organism as compared to the initial repair process. It has been estimated that if the gene which is responsible for protein formation is damaged or mutated, the results is that 70 percent of the times it is harmful and rest 30 percent it is either neutral or slightly beneficial. Prevention of mutation occurs by an automatic method within the organism known as repair system.
Mutation which is non lethal increases the gene pool and also helps in increasing the variation among the population. The more the number of genetic changes happens in specified gene pool, the more reduced natural selection occurs. On the other hand, the mutations which are favorable and keeps on accumulation many a times results in changes which helps in adaptation.
One of the interesting examples of this is color of butterfly’s offspring. Many a times butterfly produces offspring’s having effect of mutations. Maximum times this mutation will have no harmful effects, but it may results in change in the color of any of the butterfly’s offspring and further it may help him to escape from the predator due to changes in color which makes it difficult for predator to recognize the prey or ironically saying mutated prey. Thus the mutation of these type results in survival of butterfly and produces its offspring’s better. With the increase in the number of such butterfly (mutated), they may become the larger percentage within their population and can survive in better way. Many a time’s beneficial mutation helps the population to increase reproductive success also. Even though mutation may be beneficial may a times, it does not mean all mutations are beneficial and therefore for the same the organism has a repair mechanism to avoid such mutations.
Mutation can be beneficial as well as harmful. The effect of change in protein sequence due to mutation may be sometimes beneficial in certain circumstances and environments. Many a times the organism has to fight against the extreme conditions (in which he lives) for his survival. And the one which is fittest survive. This fitness many a times occurs due to changes in genomic sequence and results in production of certain proteins or phenotypes which helps this mutant organism to survive in such extreme conditions as compared to its wild type. Such mutants are capable to withstand stressful environments and thus become fit for survival. Such mutation becomes common in the said population and further results in natural selection.
The very interesting example of such mutation which is beneficial is CCR5 mutation in humans. These occur with the deletion of 32 pairs. Such mutation having humans are more resistant to HIV infection and also in their heterozygotes, the onset of AIDS is delayed. Also this type of mutation occurs more in European sides. One reason for this was the resistance of these peoples to bubonic plague which occurred more in Europe than African countries. The frequency of this mutation increased within the population. With the research and development in this field, later it was suggested that the mutation in CCR5 occurred due to smallpox and may not be because of bubonic plague.
Sickle cell disease is another such example of beneficial mutation. Those with one of the alleles out of the two are particularly more resistant to malaria. The reason for this was mutation. The sickle cell disease which is a blood disorder produces abnormal substances similar to hemoglobin which are capable of oxygen carrying within the red blood cells. In sub Sahara Africa, one third of all carry this gene. In this area malaria is common and since the infestation of malarial plasmodium is avoided by cell sickling.
Another benefit of mutation is that, there is development in repair system which occurs naturally within the organism as compared to the initial repair process. It has been estimated that if the gene which is responsible for protein formation is damaged or mutated, the results is that 70 percent of the times it is harmful and rest 30 percent it is either neutral or slightly beneficial. Prevention of mutation occurs by an automatic method within the organism known as repair system.
Mutation which is non lethal increases the gene pool and also helps in increasing the variation among the population. The more the number of genetic changes happens in specified gene pool, the more reduced natural selection occurs. On the other hand, the mutations which are favorable and keeps on accumulation many a times results in changes which helps in adaptation.
One of the interesting examples of this is color of butterfly’s offspring. Many a times butterfly produces offspring’s having effect of mutations. Maximum times this mutation will have no harmful effects, but it may results in change in the color of any of the butterfly’s offspring and further it may help him to escape from the predator due to changes in color which makes it difficult for predator to recognize the prey or ironically saying mutated prey. Thus the mutation of these type results in survival of butterfly and produces its offspring’s better. With the increase in the number of such butterfly (mutated), they may become the larger percentage within their population and can survive in better way. Many a time’s beneficial mutation helps the population to increase reproductive success also. Even though mutation may be beneficial may a times, it does not mean all mutations are beneficial and therefore for the same the organism has a repair mechanism to avoid such mutations.
![[+]](https://www.biotechnologyforums.com/images/netpen-pro/collapse_collapsed.png)