DELETERIOUS MUTATION Meaning and
Definition
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A deleterious mutation refers to a genetic alteration in an organism's DNA sequence that negatively affects its overall fitness and survival. It leads to a reduction in the organism's ability to successfully reproduce, survive, or adapt to its environment, often resulting in harmful or detrimental effects on its health and well-being.
Deleterious mutations occur when there is an error or change in the genetic material during DNA replication, recombination, or repair processes. These mutations can involve different types of alterations, such as base substitutions, insertions, deletions, or rearrangements of genetic material. The consequences of such mutations can vary depending on their location within the genome and the specific gene affected.
In terms of evolutionary significance, deleterious mutations are considered to have a negative impact on an organism's survival and ability to pass on its genetic material to future generations. They are often counteracted by the process of natural selection, which tends to favor individuals with beneficial mutations that enhance fitness.
Deleterious mutations can manifest in various ways, including genetic disorders or diseases, reduced reproductive success, impaired physical or cognitive functions, or decreased resistance to environmental stressors. In certain cases, these mutations can be recessive, meaning that they only produce noticeable effects when present in a homozygous state. However, even in a heterozygous state, deleterious mutations can still have subtle negative effects on an individual without causing severe health problems.
Common Misspellings for DELETERIOUS MUTATION
- seleterious mutation
- xeleterious mutation
- celeterious mutation
- feleterious mutation
- releterious mutation
- eeleterious mutation
- dwleterious mutation
- dsleterious mutation
- ddleterious mutation
- drleterious mutation
- d4leterious mutation
- d3leterious mutation
- deketerious mutation
- depeterious mutation
- deoeterious mutation
- delwterious mutation
- delsterious mutation
- deldterious mutation
- delrterious mutation
- del4terious mutation
Etymology of DELETERIOUS MUTATION
The word "deleterious" originates from the Latin term "dēlēterius", which means "noxious" or "destructive". It can be traced back to the Latin verb "dēlēre", meaning "to destroy" or "to wipe out". The term "mutation" stems from the Latin word "mutātiō", derived from "mutāre", which translates to "to change" or "to alter". When combined, "deleterious mutation" refers to a genetic alteration or change that has harmful or detrimental effects on an organism.
