Lethal mutation: Difference between revisions
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This is a mutation that results in the demise of the organism affected<ref>Hartl, D. and Ruvolo, M. (2012). Genetics. Burlington, Mass: Jones and; Bartlett, p.760.</ref>. Lethal mutations tend to be recessive, resulting in the death of an organism which is [[Homozygous recessive|homozygous recessive]]<ref>Weaver R, Hedrick P. Basic genetics. 2nd ed. Dubuque: WCB; 1995.</ref>. An example of such a [[Mutation|mutation]] can be observed in [[Manx cats|Manx cats]]. Characterised by their lack of tails and longer hind legs, Manx cats carry a [[Dominant allele|dominant allele]] (M<sup>L</sup>) that severely affects spinal development. All Manx cats are [[Heterozygotes|heterozygotes]]; cats that are [[Homozygote|homozygote]] for the M<sup>L</sup> allele do not survive because the [[Allele|allele]] is recessive lethal. | |||
[[Mutations|Mutations]] can also occur as a result of a dominant lethal allele, for example [[Huntington disease|Huntington disease]]. In the case of dominant lethal only one copy of the mutated [[Allele|allele]] needs to be present to result in the death of an individual<ref>Klug W, Cummings M, Spencer C, Palladino M. Essentials of Genetics. 8th ed. Pearson; 2013.</ref>.<br> | |||
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Latest revision as of 09:09, 6 December 2017
This is a mutation that results in the demise of the organism affected[1]. Lethal mutations tend to be recessive, resulting in the death of an organism which is homozygous recessive[2]. An example of such a mutation can be observed in Manx cats. Characterised by their lack of tails and longer hind legs, Manx cats carry a dominant allele (ML) that severely affects spinal development. All Manx cats are heterozygotes; cats that are homozygote for the ML allele do not survive because the allele is recessive lethal.
Mutations can also occur as a result of a dominant lethal allele, for example Huntington disease. In the case of dominant lethal only one copy of the mutated allele needs to be present to result in the death of an individual[3].