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The document discusses mutation and how it introduces new alleles into a population. It explains the importance of DNA repair enzymes in preventing errors during DNA replication. It also examines different types of mutagenic agents such as electromagnetic radiation, chemicals, and naturally occurring mutagens and how they can affect the body by damaging DNA molecules.

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30 views2 pages

1 - 1 - Answers

The document discusses mutation and how it introduces new alleles into a population. It explains the importance of DNA repair enzymes in preventing errors during DNA replication. It also examines different types of mutagenic agents such as electromagnetic radiation, chemicals, and naturally occurring mutagens and how they can affect the body by damaging DNA molecules.

Uploaded by

jasmine.tran26
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Name: Answers

Year 12 Biology
Module 6: Genetic Change
Term 4 Week 7
Mutation Mark:
Inquiry question: How does mutation introduce new alleles into a population? / 15
Students:
• Explain how a range of mutagens operate, including but not limited to: Percentage:
– Electromagnetic radiation sources
– Chemicals
– Naturally occurring mutagens

1. Explain the importance of DNA repair enzymes during replication. (3 marks)


Criteria Mark
Student response explains the importance of DNA repair enzymes during replication in detail. 3

Student response explains the importance of DNA repair enzymes during replication briefly. 2

Student response identifies what DNA repair enzymes are. 1

Sample response:
DNA repair enzymes are important because these perform the role of fixing errors in the nucleotide
sequence of DNA such that these errors are not replicated during DNA replication. From this, DNA repair
enzymes prevent the occurrence of mutations that may bring about harmful effects to the body.

2. Explain how the following types of mutagenic agents affect the human body:
Criteria Mark
Student response explains what the mutagenic agent is and three of its effects in the body. 4

Student response explains what the mutagenic agent is and two of its effects in the body. 3

Student response explains what the mutagenic agent is and one of its effects in the body. 2

Student response explains one of its effects in the body. 1


Sample responses:
a) electromagnetic radiation sources (4 marks)
Sources of electromagnetic radiation are mutagenic agents which exposes cells to ionising radiation. Ionising
radiation can directly cause mutation by breaking the chemical bonds of DNA molecules. It can also
indirectly cause mutation by ionising atoms, producing free radicals which can damage DNA molecules.
From directly and indirectly damaging DNA molecules, ionising radiation can interfere with cell division,
gene products and cell metabolism in the body.

b) chemicals (4 marks)
Chemical mutagens can cause mutations if cells are exposed to them at higher frequencies or for a
prolonged time period. As these are structurally similar to nucleotide bases, chemical mutagens may be
accidentally incorporated during DNA replication. This can cause mispairing and affect the nucleotide
sequence in the DNA molecules. As such, the function protein that is produced from the resultant mRNA
molecule would be different to what is intended and can potentially impair cellular processes.

c) naturally occurring mutagens. (4 marks)


Naturally occurring mutagens include biological mutagenic agents which may cause mutations if cells are
exposed to them at higher frequencies or for a prolonged length of time, such as viruses, bacteria, and
transposons. Viruses can insert their own base sequences in DNA, changing the functioning of genes and
trigger the growth of cancers in the cell. Bacteria can produce free radicals which can damage DNA
molecules and impair DNA repair systems. Transposons are segments of DNA which can change their
position in chromosomal DNA and disrupt normal functioning.

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