MECHANISMS:

THE CAUSES OF
MUTATION EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY

DIMPLE Z. GUINARES
3RD YEAR BSED BIOLOGY
MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY-GENERAL SANTOS CITY
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DNA SPONTANEOUSLY BREAKS
DOWN OR IS NOT COPIED
ACCURATELY
Most of the mutations that we think matter to
evolution are “naturally-occurring.” For
example, when a cell divides, it makes a copy of
its DNA — and sometimes the copy is not quite
perfect. That small difference from the original
DNA sequence is a mutation. Spontaneous
breakdown of DNA can also cause mutations.
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EXTERNAL INFLUENCES CAN
02
CAUSE MUTATIONS
Mutations can also be caused by exposure
to specific chemicals or radiation that
cause the DNA to break down. Cells do
have mechanisms to repair damaged or
altered DNA molecules, but they aren’t
perfect. Whatever the cause, mutations
occur any time a cell ends up carrying a
DNA sequence slightly different than the
original.
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MUTAGENS
Many chemicals that occur naturally in the environment have
mutagenic properties and these have been supplemented in
recent years with other chemical mutagens that result from
human industrial activity.Most organisms are exposed to
greater or lesser amounts of these various mutagens, their
genomes suffering damage as a result.

Some act as base analogs and are mistakenly used as

substrates when new DNA is synthesized at the replication
fork.
Some react directly with DNA, causing structural changes
that lead to miscopying of the template strand when the
DNA is replicated.
Some mutagens act indirectly on DNA. They do not
themselves affect DNA structure, but instead cause the cell
to synthesize chemicals such as peroxides that have a
direct mutagenic effect.