Final answer:
This is a Biology question at the High School grade level where the student is asked about the possibility of mutations in a DNA sequence post-radiation exposure. True, each nucleotide can mutate after radiogenic damage. Mutations, beneficial or harmful, can arise spontaneously or be induced, with effects ranging from benign to detrimental, such as cancer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asked about mutations in a DNA sequence after exposure to radiation. Each nucleotide in the DNA sequence can indeed undergo mutation if exposed to radiation. Radiation can act as a mutagen, causing mutations by altering the genetic sequence of DNA. These changes can be point mutations, insertions, or deletions, thus affecting the nucleotide sequence.
Beneficial mutations can lead to advantageous traits, such as increased antibiotic resistance in bacteria, while harmful mutations can cause diseases, including certain types of cancer. Exposure to mutagens like cigarette smoke can lead to cancer because these substances can cause mutations in genes that control cell growth and division. It's also important to note that mutations are not always induced by external factors; some can be spontaneous, occurring without external influence. Additionally, some mutations can indeed make chromosomes longer or shorter through insertions or deletions.
For example, a deletion mutation that removes two nucleotides from a gene's sequence is a type of point mutation that can lead to a frameshift, potentially altering the amino acid sequence of the protein produced and thereby affecting its function.