Mutations
May alter the gene product –must cause a change in the
phenotype
functional activity change in the gene product
often see a loss of function –loss of function mutation
if loss of function is complete –null allele
can see an enhancement of function and an increase in quantity
of the gene product –gain of function–usually deals with
gene regulation
protooncogene –regulates cell cycle can be converted to an
oncogene –can cause a cancer cell
Mutation may not detectably alter function –see only in the DNA
sequence
Traits are often influenced by >1 gene –complex metabolic
pathways –mess up one enzyme results in no end product
