Mutations 1/29

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Have you ever wondered how superheroes got their powers? Maybe you've heard some theories, yet never really understood the concept of it all. Well then you're in luck because I'm going to explain one way superheroes usually get their powers. Organisms can obtain special abilities by a reaction in their DNA called a mutation. Mutation is the change in nucleic acids. Mutations can be caused by either external factors or internal factors. For example, some external factors that can cause mutation are chemicals and radiation. When these factors are in contact with your body, they can effect your body by possibly creating a mutation. One example of an internal factor that can cause a mutation is DNA replication. DNA replication is the process in which a double-stranded DNA molecule is copied to produce two identical DNA molecules. A common mistake people make is thinking that mutations happen on purpose, but something most don't know is that mutations are random. Meaning they can't be controlled and can happen at anytime. There are three different types of mutations; helpful, harmful, and neutral. However, mutations that are helpful are incredibly rare and don't happen as often as the rest. In addition there are gene mutations and chromosomes mutations. The three different gene mutations are substitution, insertion, and deletion. Substitution happens when a base is substituted with other bases in DNA that don't match with each other. Insertion happens when an additional base is added to the DNA strand. Lastly, deletion happens when a base in DNA is simply removed from the DNA strand. The four different chromosome bases are duplication, deletions, inversion, and translocation. Duplication happens when extra copies of genes are produced. Deletions happen when there are missing parts in the chromosome and inversion happens when the parts are reversed. Finally, translocation happens when the chromosomes are put in the wrong location and are not where they are supposed to be.

S&EP - SP7: Engaging in argument from evidence

I used evidence to defend my explanation. I wrote down some notes in my binder providing the video we had watched in class as evidence. I formulated evidence based on solid data when I stated that helpful mutations are very rare and occur less often than the other types of mutation. Using the fact that there is a ten percent chance that mutation can occur and that less than a third of this ten percent will be a helpful or beneficial mutation as evidence. I examined my own understanding in light of the evidence. I used to think that you can make a mutation happen to an organism on purpose, but because of the video that was provided to us in class now I think that mutations are random and can happen to anytime. I collaborated with my peers in searching for the best explanation. I did some research on mutations and how they occur which I discussed with my table group. Together we figured out that if we were going to make our superhero obtain powers by a mutation it would have to be unintentional. As well as we discussed how we would also have to choose from one of the different mutation situations to explain how our superhero got special abilities.

XCC: Cause and Effect

The cause and effect relationship that occurs in mutation is between the order or format of the DNA or chromosome and what form of mutation will happen to the organism. More specifically, the formation in which the DNA bases are in the DNA strand or location of chromosome parts, control the form of mutation the organism might obtain. Basically, the particular form that happens to the organism depends on the location of the DNA bases or chromosome parts in the body. One example of this cause and effect relationship is if a DNA base is substituted with other bases in DNA that don't match with each other, this means that the organism will most likely have a substitution gene mutation. Such as, if the base A matched with C instead of T. Or if the base G matched with T instead of C. Another example of this cause and effect relationship is if a base in DNA is simply removed/missing from the DNA strand or if there are missing parts in the chromosome, this means that the deletion gene mutation or deletions chromosome mutation will most likely happen to the organism. I suppose that this theory could possibly be tested by purposely changing a particular formation in an organism's DNA strand or chromosome to see if it will result in the desired gene or chromosome mutation.