Question

Research has shown that mutations outside of genes may cause disease, such as in some cases of sickle cell disease and multiple endocrine cancers. Explain how such a mutation might alter the expression of a gene.

Answer 1

A genetic disorder that is caused by mutation can be passed by parents to their offspring. There are many possible causes for mutations to occur such as mistakes during the process of replication and transcription.

For example, sickle cell anemia is a type of autosomal recessive disorder. The mutation that causes the disorder affects just one amino acid in a single protein. Consequently, it has a serious effect on the person who has this disease. The type of mutation in sickle cell anemia is point mutation where there is a change in a single nucleotide in DNA. Most of the time, the consequences of point mutations will cause a disorder in a person.