Sickle Cell Mutation

Mutations is a natural development that changes the DNA structure with it being very common. When the cell copies its DNA, a typo occurs every 100,000 or so nucleotides before dividing with there being 120,000 typos each time one of the cells divide. The most common change is that the base is replaced for another and occasionally a base is removed or an additional base is added with the cell being able to overhaul the majority of these changes. When a DNA change remains not repaired in a cell this will result in the cell becoming an egg or a sperm with it being passed down to offspring. Due to mutation we all have some new variations that are not existent in our parents. The term mutation or mutant commonly used by people is to describe something as unwanted or damaged however according to the English dictionary “Mutation is the changing of the

Usually a baby gets 46 chromosomes having 23 from their mother and 23 from their father, however people with Down syndrome have a total of 47 chromosomes either an extra chromosome from the mother or father. This extra genetic material causes the person to have affected physical features and development delays. Harmful mutations have severe consequences on the health of the organism. Sickle cell anaemia is an example of a natural harmful mutation existing in human beings. According to Muhammad Faraz Bhatti from the National University of Science and Technology, 2006, “There are other harmful mutations that risks the health of the organism, while some mutations advise no effects on the fitness of the organism these are known as silent mutations.” Also when cells mutate in a way that causes them to grow too fast or if they lose their ability to stop growing once they get too crowded, cancer can develop and can result in