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Mutations01:39

Mutations

Overview
Mutations01:35

Mutations

Mutations are changes in the sequence of DNA. These changes can occur spontaneously or they can be induced by exposure to environmental factors. Mutations can be characterized in a number of different ways: whether and how they alter the amino acid sequence of the protein, whether they occur over a small or large area of DNA, and whether they occur in somatic cells or germline cells.
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
While point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in...
Mutations01:39

Mutations

Overview
Mismatch Repair01:20

Mismatch Repair

Organisms are capable of detecting and fixing nucleotide mismatches that occur during DNA replication. This sophisticated process requires identifying the new strand and replacing the erroneous bases with correct nucleotides. Mismatch repair is coordinated by many proteins in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
The Mutator Protein Family Plays a Key Role in DNA Mismatch Repair
The human genome has more than 3 billion base pairs of DNA per cell. Prior to cell division, that vast amount of genetic...
Mismatch Repair01:36

Mismatch Repair

Overview
Genome Copying Errors02:46

Genome Copying Errors

DNA replication is a well-evolved process that copies millions of base pairs with high fidelity during each cell division. Occasionally a wrong base or a long stretch of wrong bases may get added to the daughter strands. If the errors are left unchecked, cells might accumulate several mutations that might endanger their  survival. Therefore, the copying errors are checked and repaired at three levels.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

A Strategy to Identify de Novo Mutations in Common Disorders such as Autism and Schizophrenia
05:51

A Strategy to Identify de Novo Mutations in Common Disorders such as Autism and Schizophrenia

Published on: June 15, 2011

Sex and deleterious mutations.

Isabel Gordo1, Paulo R A Campos

  • 1Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, P-2781-901 Oeiras, Portugal. igordo@igc.gulbenkian.pt

Genetics
|May 22, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Sexual reproduction evolves due to the advantage of recombination, especially when deleterious mutations have intermediate effects. This advantage is strongest under conditions that accelerate fitness decline in asexual populations.

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Generation of Genomic Deletions in Mammalian Cell Lines via CRISPR/Cas9
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Generation of Genomic Deletions in Mammalian Cell Lines via CRISPR/Cas9

Published on: January 3, 2015

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 5, 2026

A Strategy to Identify de Novo Mutations in Common Disorders such as Autism and Schizophrenia
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A Strategy to Identify de Novo Mutations in Common Disorders such as Autism and Schizophrenia

Published on: June 15, 2011

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Generation of Genomic Deletions in Mammalian Cell Lines via CRISPR/Cas9

Published on: January 3, 2015

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Population Genetics

Background:

  • The evolutionary persistence of sexual reproduction remains a central question in biology.
  • Previous research suggests multiple factors contribute to the evolution of sex.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the conditions favoring the evolution of sexual reproduction under minimal assumptions.
  • To investigate the role of deleterious mutations and population finiteness in the advantage of sex.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a minimal theoretical model for sexual reproduction.
  • Analysis of the impact of mutation effect size and selection strength on recombination advantage.
  • Comparison of fitness decline rates between sexual and asexual populations.

Main Results:

  • The maximum advantage of recombination is observed at an intermediate deleterious mutation effect.
  • Conditions favoring sex correlate with rapid fitness decline in asexual populations (Muller's ratchet).
  • The selective advantage of recombination modifiers is dependent on their effect strength.

Conclusions:

  • Sex evolves when it effectively counteracts the accumulation of deleterious mutations.
  • A link between sexual reproduction and environmental stress is proposed, as stress may enhance mutation effects.
  • The findings support a quantitative understanding of sex evolution in finite populations.