What is a genetic mutation?
A genetic mutation is a subtle irregularity in a cell’s DNA sequence. These mutations are responsible for many inherited diseases such as cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia. They also may predispose an individual to cancer, major psychiatric illnesses, and other complex diseases. To experience the difficulty of DNA coding; visit http://dna2z.com/DNA-o-gram/index.html and send each other “coded” messages. Organisms are modified by 1) identifying the portions of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) that govern the trait that is to be replicated; 2) extracting the DNA from the organism; 3) introducing the DNA into a different organism; and, 4) reproducing the new organism, with the new trait. Is this process anything new? Through selective breeding, farmers and ranchers have introduced valued traits into crops and livestock for centuries. It was selective breeding, for example, that produced two main species in the grass family, wheat and rye. Some farmers focused on breeding a grass that was
