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Spontaneous and Induced Mutations

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Spontaneous mutations arise infrequently during DNA replication due to errors in the process. A key factor behind these errors is tautomeric shifts in nitrogenous bases, where bases transition from keto to enol forms or amino to imino forms. This shift can alter base-pairing rules, leading to mutations. Additionally, reactive oxygen species (ROS) arising from aerobic metabolism can damage DNA, resulting in depurination (loss of a purine base) or depyrimidination (loss of a pyrimidine base).

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 17, 2026

The Lambda Select cII Mutation Detection System

The Lambda Select cII Mutation Detection System

Published on: April 26, 2018

Chemical and UV Mutagenesis.

Jeffrey L Bose¹

¹Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, MSN 3029, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA. jbose@kumc.edu.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)

|February 4, 2015

Summary

Random mutagenesis using UV light or chemicals creates single nucleotide changes for bacterial studies. Economical whole-genome sequencing now makes identifying these mutations feasible again.

Keywords:

Chemical mutagenesis Mutation Nitrosoguanidine Random mutagenesis UV mutagenesis

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Last Updated: Apr 17, 2026

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Site-Directed Mutagenesis for In Vitro and In Vivo Experiments Exemplified with RNA Interactions in Escherichia Coli

Site-Directed Mutagenesis for In Vitro and In Vivo Experiments Exemplified with RNA Interactions in Escherichia Coli

Published on: February 5, 2019

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Genetics
Molecular Biology

Background:

Understanding bacterial physiology and virulence relies on creating mutations.
Genome-wide random mutations offer crucial discovery potential beyond targeted approaches.
Transposon mutagenesis can miss important mutations by interrupting coding/noncoding sequences.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide an overview protocol for random mutagenesis using UV light or DNA-damaging chemicals.
To re-establish chemical and UV-based mutagenesis as viable techniques for bacterial research.
To highlight the potential of single nucleotide changes isolated through random mutagenesis.

Main Methods:

Random mutagenesis utilizing ultraviolet (UV) light.
Random mutagenesis employing DNA-damaging chemicals.
Protocol overview for both UV and chemical mutagenesis methods.

Main Results:

Chemical and UV mutagenesis allow for single nucleotide changes.
These methods offer an alternative to transposon mutagenesis for isolating specific mutations.
Economical whole-genome sequencing facilitates mutation site identification.

Conclusions:

Random mutagenesis via UV or chemicals is a valuable tool for bacterial research.
The resurgence of whole-genome sequencing makes these techniques practical again.
This chapter provides a protocol to guide researchers in applying these mutagenesis methods.