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Chapter 28: Problem 14

Transposons are mutagenic agents. Why?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Transposons, often called 'jumping genes', act as mutagenic agents because they can move from one location in the genome to another, potentially disrupting essential genes or regulatory DNA sequences, leading to mutations.

Step by step solution

01

Define Transposons

Transposons, also known as 'jumping genes', are sequences of DNA that can move (or be copied) from one location in the genome to another. They occur in nearly all organisms and are largely responsible for the variation we see in genome size.
02

Explain the Effect of Transposons

Transposons can change an organism's genetic makeup by integrating into the genome at different locations, which can disrupt essential genes or regulatory DNA sequences. Thus, they act as mutagenic agents because their movement can cause disruption and resulting in mutations.
03

Example of Mutagenic Activity

To comprehend this, consider a scenario where a transposon inserts itself within a functional gene. Insertion into coding sequences can disrupt gene function, leading to a potential mutation. On the other hand, if a transposon inserts itself into regulatory sequences, it can impact the gene's expression.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

If \(^{15} \mathrm{N}\) -labeled \(E .\) coli DNA has a density of \(1.724 \mathrm{g} / \mathrm{mL},^{14} \mathrm{N}\) -labeled DNA has a density of \(1.710 \mathrm{g} / \mathrm{mL}\), and \(E\). coli cells grown for many generations on \(^{14} \mathrm{NH}_{4}^{+}\) as a nitrogen source are transferred to media containing \(^{15} \mathrm{NH}_{4}^{+}\) as the sole N source, (a) what will be the density of the DNA after one generation, assuming replication is semiconservative? (b) Supposing replication took place by a dispersive mechanism, what would be the density of DNA after one generation? (c) Design an experiment to distinguish between semiconservative and dispersive modes of replication.

The eukaryotic translesion DNA polymerases fall into the Y family of DNA polymerases. Structural studies reveal that their fingers and thumb domains are small and stubby (see Figure 28.10 ). In addition, Y-family polymerase active sites are more open and less constrained where base pairing leads to selection of a dNTP substrate for the polymerase reaction. Discuss the relevance of these structural differences. Would you expect Y-family polymerases to have \(3^{\prime}\) -exonuclease activity? Explain your answer.

Show the nucleotide sequence changes that might arise in a dsDNA (coding strand segment GCTA) upon mutagenesis with \((\mathrm{a}) \mathrm{HNO}_{2}\) (b) bromouracil, and (c) 2 -aminopurine.

How do DNA gyrases and helicases differ in their respective functions and modes of action?

(a) What are the respective roles of the 5 '-exonuclease and \(3^{\prime}\) exonuclease activities of DNA polymerase I? (b) What might be a feature of an \(E .\) coli strain that lacked DNA polymerase I 3 '-exonuclease activity?
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