Introduction to mutations & genetic diseases
PMutations and genetic diseases is a core JC1 topic in H2 BIO A levels. This topic builds upon DNA replication and protein synthesis and outlines all the different types of mutations that can occur at DNA as well as chromosomal level. Each mutation type is accompanied with a discussion of an example of genetic disease which includes sickle cell disease and Down’s syndrome.
This topic lays the groundwork and is a primer to cancer, an example of a multigene disease. It is also a complimentary topic to both molecular techniques and the genetics of inheritance and variation.
Materials for mutations & genetic diseases
- I illustrate the different types of large mutations 👆🏻.
- 👆🏻 Video explaining how and when sickle cell disease arise.
- 👆🏻 Video showing how to solve sickle cell diseasese arise.
- Chromosomal nondisjunction (Meiosis) (Video)
- Download diagrams (high resolution) – FREE!
- Purchase notes (including phrasing error corrections & review question solutions) for photosynthesis.
- Purchase notes (including phrasing error corrections & review question solutions).
Phrasing errors
- Sickle cell disease is due to a mutation in the haemoglobin gene.
- A person heterozygous for Sickle cell disease has an A gene and an S gene.
- Hb becomes sickle shaped. Different RBC stick together forming sickle shaped RBC.
- The mutation changes the codon resulting in a different amino acid synthesised/produced.
Exam tips
- In mosiacism, some cells have the mutations and others do not. This is in contrast to other genetic diseases where all cells carry the mutations. The earlier case is likely congenital and the latter inheritance from parental gametes.
