4 Advantages and Disadvantages of DNA Mutating

There are several reasons why the DNA mutate, which is the change that occurs in the DNA sequence. Sometimes it can be caused by mistakes when copying the DNA or when affected by several factors including cigarette smoking and ultraviolet light.

In a lifetime, there are changes that occur in the DNA which include mutations in the sequence of bases. This will result in the change of proteins being made which can sometimes be a positive or a negative development. During replication of the DNA, mutations can occur when errors made are not corrected right away. Exposure to pollutants in the environment such as smoke, radiation, and sunlight can also cause mutations.

However, DNA mutating can have positive or negative impact in human life. So, this can either be essential or it can disrupt the normal gene activity which is responsible for causing diseases. In order to understand more about this term, here is a collection of advantages and disadvantages of DNA mutating.

List of Advantages of DNA Mutating

1. Essential for Survival
The process of mutating has allowed humans to adapt to different environments. Tolerance to lactose, for example, is a particular external mutation advantageous in societies raising cows and goats. Basically, mutations can happen as antibiotic resistance of a bacteria, sickle cell resistance against malaria, and immunity of a person against HIV, just to name a few.

Likewise, there are mutations that caused the shortness of height which has proven to be useful in Ecuadorian communities. This is known as the Laron syndrome which enables them to be immune to diabetes and cancer.

2. Creates Diversity or Uniqueness
A switch in the chromosomes responsible for the inability of producing brown eyes has also been attributed to genetic mutation that has affected the OCA2 gene. For instance, occurrences like hair color, freckles, beauty spots, and baldness are just a few consequences of mutation.

List of Disadvantages of DNA Mutating

1. Cause of Some Diseases
As there are positive effects of mutation, there are also negative ones which caused diseases. This was explained in a related news in 2008 that one particular mutation that was common to the Indian subcontinent that has predisposed citizens to heart disease. At the same time, there are other diseases that are linked to genetic mutation, which include diabetes, cancer, and asthma.

2. Genetic Disorder
Genetic disorders are diseases that are caused by the abnormality in the DNA of certain individuals. Some of these abnormalities could range from a tiny mutation in a gene to either the addition or subtraction of a whole chromosome or sets of chromosomes. One mutation type that is most common is the non-disjunction disorder. An example of such a disorder is Down syndrome, which is a genetic disorder that is common and should be responsible for developmental delays.

Mutation is a fact of life and it is one of the most amazing mysteries that nature can provide. It is in fact responsible for the diversity of life on the planet, including the existence of man. Nevertheless, not all mutations offer positive impact.