Question

Match the following mutagens with the effect they have on DNA.

Acridines
UV radiation
Deaminating agents
a) Transitions
b) Thymine dimers
c) Insertions and deletions
Choose the correct match for each mutagen:
a) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
b) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
c) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
d) 1-a, 2-b, 3-c

Answer 1

Mutagens, such as acridines, UV radiation, and deaminating agents, can cause specific changes in DNA. Acridines work as intercalating agents, UV radiation introduces pyrimidine dimers, and deaminating agents remove amino groups from bases. These mutagens can lead to frameshift mutations, point mutations, or base substitutions.

Step-by-step explanation:

Mutagens are agents that can cause changes in DNA, while mutations are the changes that occur in DNA. Chemical mutagens include base analogs and chemicals that modify existing bases. Acridines are chemical mutagens that work as intercalating agents, sliding between the stacked nitrogenous bases of DNA and distorting the molecule. This can lead to frameshift mutations, which are caused by either the skipping of several nucleotides (creating a deletion) or the insertion of extra nucleotides (creating an insertion). UV radiation, on the other hand, can introduce pyrimidine dimers (specifically thymine dimers) in DNA, altering the base-pairing rules and potentially causing point mutations. Deaminating agents are chemical mutagens that can remove amino (-NH2) groups from bases like guanine, cytosine, or adenine, which can result in base substitutions.