Chapter 12
When Things Go Wrong: Changes in DNA Sequence
IN THIS CHAPTER
Considering the different types and causes of DNA sequence changes
Realizing the consequences of and repairs for DNA sequence changes
Your DNA is remarkably similar to the DNA of every other human on earth. In fact, more than 99 percent of the human genome sequence is the same in any two individuals, whether they are related or not. The differences in DNA sequence are what make each of us unique. Variations in DNA sequence are responsible for all phenotypic variation, such as eye color and height in humans, the flavor of different kinds of apples, the differences among dog breeds, and the different types of bees. Unfortunately, changes in DNA sequence can also lead to disease.
Changes in DNA occur all the time, spontaneously and pretty much randomly. The effects of alterations in DNA sequence depend on where the changes occur (in a gene or in a non-coding region of the genome), how the change affects the protein product (if located in a gene), and whether the change occurs in a germ cell (an egg or sperm) or in a somatic cell (a non-sex cell). In this chapter, you discover what leads to changes in DNA sequence (whether good or bad), how DNA can repair itself in the face of these changes, and what the consequences ...
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