HEREDITY
MUTATIONS
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Question
[CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
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eating certain foods high in saturated fats
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strenuous physical activity
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exposure to radiation
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a sudden exposure to cooler temperatures
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Detailed explanation-1: -Exposure to mutagens often causes alterations in the molecular structure of nucleotides, ultimately causing substitutions, insertions, and deletions in the DNA sequence.
Detailed explanation-2: -When ionising radiation acts upon gonads or germ cells, it may cause damage to the genetic material (mutations) which can lead to genetically induced diseases (hereditary defects). These may result in malformations, metabolic disorders, immune deficiencies etc.
Detailed explanation-3: -Mutations can result from errors in DNA replication during cell division, exposure to mutagens or a viral infection. Germline mutations (that occur in eggs and sperm) can be passed on to offspring, while somatic mutations (that occur in body cells) are not passed on.
Detailed explanation-4: -Ionizing radiation is a type of high-energy radiation that is able to release electrons from atoms and molecules generating ions which can break covalent bonds. Ionizing radiation directly affects DNA structure by inducing DNA breaks, particularly, DSBs.
Detailed explanation-5: -Mutations can occur during DNA replication if errors are made and not corrected in time. Mutations can also occur as the result of exposure to environmental factors such as smoking, sunlight and radiation.