Why in news?
- Senior scientists at Australia’s national science agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), have said the virus dubbed SARS-CoV-2 is mutating, after analysing the 115 published genome sequences from the current COVID-19 outbreak.
- Some of these ‘errors’ in the virus known as ‘mutations’ may be significant for the development and evaluation of new diagnostics, drugs and vaccines
Mutation
- A Mutation occurs when a DNA gene is damaged or changed in such a way as to alter the genetic message carried by that gene.
- A Mutagen is an agent of substance that can bring about a permanent alteration to the physical composition of a DNA gene such that the genetic message is changed.
![Machine generated alternative text:
What is a
mutation?
a change in the
underlying DNA code
that causes the gene to
not function properly
1.
2.
3.
2
Substitution: part of the DNA
swapped
for different DNA
Addition: Excess DNA is
added
Deletion: Part of the DNA is
removed
Types of
Mutations
Why does
this matter?
Changing DNA changes
the proteins produced
This can be benign but
can also cause diseases
The red indicates a change in the DNA. This is a mutation.](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img/https://www.legacyias.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/MU-1024x533.png)