MUTTATIONS! RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!

    NO! NO GET AWAY FROM ME! I WANT TO LIVE! I WANT TO LIVE! AHHHHH! Oh sorry, I was dreaming that I was in The Hunger Games and then there were mutts chasing after me and I was gonna die and... wow that was terrifying! Thank god that was a dream...

Wouldn't you be scared if THIS was chasing YOU?!

     Well since we're talking about muttations, let's talk about mutations! DNA mutations are formed by DNA damage from environmental problems like ultraviolet light, nuclear radiation, or certain chemicals. Or they can be formed from mistakes in DNA replications. 

        There are three different kinds of mutations. And those are substitution, insertion, and deletion. Substitution is when you switch one base with another. Like changing an "A" to a "G".  Insertion is when you add extra base pairs into a new place in the DNA. Deletion is when a section of the DNA is lost or deleted. 

Substitution 

Insertion

Deletion     

       Now that we know about how it's formed. Let's learn about what it DOES to you. 

WARNING THE FOLLOWING WORDS WILL BE SAD.

Well, most things that have mutations, that same mutation will be passed onto their kids. But, not all will. The kinds that wont are called somatic mutations. The ones that do get passed on are called germ line mutations. Germ line mutation can have a different affects. It can have no big affect on it because it got fixed quickly with DNA repair. It can have a mild affect like making a cat's ears bend backwards slightly. Or, it can have a really big affect. They can cause them to have huge deformities or a disease. 




      Mutated animals/humans is pretty sad. They can have an extra limb or even a disease. Autism and sickle cell anemia are some genetic mutation related diseases. Sickle cell anemia is a blood disease that makes sickle cells instead of red blood cells. Sickle cells have something wrong in the hemoglobin, the stuff inside the cell. Sickle cells are crescent shaped and are sticky so they block up the passage way. Autism is a disorder that affects a person's communication skills. It's more common with kids between the ages of 3. 


      

      Before I leave you, here are some cool links. DNA MUTATIONS! SICKLE CELL ANEMIA! AUTISM! 
That's all for this blog! Bye guys! SURVIVE THE MUTTS! Science Fun:)