Identify two general ways chemical mutagens can alter DNA. Give examples of these two mechanisms.

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Hey, everyone. Let's take a look at this question. Together, radiation can induce a mutation in the DNA sequence in which a single nucleotide is changed. This mutation is called, what is it? Answer choice. A inversion, answer choice B translocation, answer choice C duplication or answer choice D point mutation. Let's work this problem out together to try to figure out which of the following answer. Choices is the name for that type of mutation in the DNA sequence in which a single nucleotide is changed. So we are looking for a mutation in the DNA sequence that results in a single nucleotide being changed. So we are talking about a nucleotide related mutation. And these types of nucleotide mutations are substitutions which is when that nucleotide is changed or even a deletion where that nucleotide is deleted. So since we are talking about a single nucleotide that is changed, we're talking about a nucleotide mutation that results in a substitution. And so looking at our answer choices, we can see that answer choice A says inversion, answer choice B says translocation and answer choice C says duplication, which we can recall that these three answer choices describe types of chromosome mutations, which are different from nucleotide mutations. So that means that answer choice A B and C are all incorrect since we are not looking for those chromosome mutations. And instead we are looking for a nucleotide mutation. Which answer choice D point mutation is, is a type of nucleotide mutation in which a single nucleotide is changed or substituted for another. So answer choice D point mutation is the correct answer. I hope you found this video to be helpful. Thank you and goodbye.

Identify two general ways chemical mutagens can alter DNA. Give examples of these two mechanisms.

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Key Concepts

Chemical Mutagens

Base Substitution

Frameshift Mutation