Part 1 of 1 - Question 9 of 10
10 Points
When DNA is copied, sometimes there are mistakes. Approximately how often does this
happen?
O A. There aren't any mistakes.
OB. 1 in a billion bases.
OC. 1 in a million bases.
OD. 1 in a trillion bases.
Reset Selection

D. 1 in a trillion bases

Explanation:

A mutagen agent can change the genetic information of organisms increasing mutations over the natural level. Mutagens cause changes in the bases, and pairing bases, that compose DNI strands.

A mistake in the process of DNI copy during cell division might cause genetic changes in daughter cells. Defects DNI replication might be inherited if it occurs in germinal cells. But it can also cause many significant epigenetic changes.

Many of these changes can be detected on time by enzymes such as DNI polymerase. This enzyme can correct these mistakes or at least some of them, moving from 3´to 5´direction, and eliminating the mistakes.

The highly effective replication system, together with the action of enzymes, makes it rare to occur a mistake in DNI replication. Generally speaking, the mistaken rates in DNI replication are very low, meaning that only one in a trillion times occurs a mistaken DNI copy.