ShmoopTube

Where Monty Python meets your 10th grade teacher.

Search Thousands of Shmoop Videos

Molecular Genetics: DNA Mutations 312 Views


Share It!


Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:14

Okay, so we're talking about mutations now with Dr. Ruth.

00:18

What happens when DNA gets mutated?

00:21

Like, we've all seen the movie X-Men and its sequels, and they're awesome.

00:27

Talk to us about mutations.

00:29

You can get a mutation in DNA and you can have nothing happen...for a couple different reasons.

00:35

Either the mutation happens in a part of the DNA that's not important...

00:38

...or the mutation doesn't actually change the protein sequence.

00:41

Give us an example. Like, what would be a mutation where nothing happened?

00:45

So let's say that you've got a gene here and a gene here and the mutation happens in between...

00:48

...it might...there's a lot of junk DNA in our cells that really don't do much...

00:51

...and so if you got the mutation there, it probably wouldn't have a detrimental -- or any -- sort of effect.

00:55

Would we even notice?

00:57

We wouldn't. Our cells encounter tons and tons of mutations every day that we repair most of...but don't always notice the others.

01:05

And is that something that genetically evolved because we evolved with mutations? Like...according to Magneto?

01:13

Or, like, how did all that...why do we exist in a world where there's purposely so much conflict in our bodies? Is that to keep us tough... and it's a Darwinian kind of thing?

01:24

So mutations -- that's another potential effect of mutations...

01:28

They're sort of the source of evolution. Without mutations, you wouldn't be able to be better adapted to some environments.

01:35

Some mutations are good.

01:37

The other thing is that, in order to have no mutations, you'd have to kind of shield yourself from the environment completely.

01:42

Because a lot of mutations actually come from exposure to the sun or to things in the environment... so it's kind of impossible to do.

Related Videos

Marine Flashcard
32734 Views

In this video, we dive beneath the sea to review the kinds of interesting animals that live in the deep blue.

Phenotype
948 Views

Don't like how someone looks? Blame their phenotypes.

Phospholipids
7339 Views

Anything that has a cell (bacteria, listen up!) has phospholipids that keep the cell contained and give it form and shape. Phospholipids protect us...

What Would Mary Shelley Think of GMOs?
1343 Views

GMOs. Now that’s a scary word. Or is it? Guess it’s time to ask ourselves: WWMST? ...For those of us who don’t constantly ask ourselves “wh...

GED Science 1.2 Life Science
399 Views

GED Science 1.2 Life Science