Final answer:
DNA mutations, alterations in the sequence of DNA nucleotides, can occur spontaneously due to errors in DNA replication or can be induced by exposure to mutagens such as radiation or certain chemicals. Unrepaired, these changes can have significant consequences, including changes in protein structure and function and the potential for diseases like cancer.
Step-by-step explanation:
DNA can mutate, or change its sequence, as a result of various factors. These can be broadly classified into spontaneous and induced mutations. Spontaneous mutations occur naturally during the process of DNA replication when errors occur. For example, DNA polymerase, the enzyme that synthesises new DNA strands, makes an error once for every billion base pairs it replicates. When these errors are not corrected, they lead to a permanent change in the DNA sequence, thus a mutation.
Induced mutations are caused by exposure to certain environmental agents known as mutagens, which can be chemicals or types of radiation such as UV rays, x-rays, or gamma radiation. These mutagens can cause DNA damage by modifying bases or causing breaks in the DNA strand, leading to mutations.
Finally, certain types of mutations can also occur due to insertion or deletion of DNA bases, causing changes in the reading frame or even translocation of segments within the genome. These changes can significantly alter protein structure and function, potentially leading to serious health consequences like cancer.
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