The family of a sixth-grade boy in Palo Alto, California, was informed by school administrators that he would have to transfer out of his middle school because they believed his mutation of the CFTR gene, which does not produce any symptoms associated with cystic fibrosis, posed a risk to other students at the school who have cystic fibrosis. After missing 11 days of school, a settlement was reached to have the boy return to school. What ethical problems might you associate with this example?
Table of contents
- 1. Introduction to Genetics51m
- 2. Mendel's Laws of Inheritance3h 37m
- 3. Extensions to Mendelian Inheritance2h 41m
- 4. Genetic Mapping and Linkage2h 28m
- 5. Genetics of Bacteria and Viruses1h 21m
- 6. Chromosomal Variation1h 48m
- 7. DNA and Chromosome Structure56m
- 8. DNA Replication1h 10m
- 9. Mitosis and Meiosis1h 34m
- 10. Transcription1h 0m
- 11. Translation58m
- 12. Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes1h 19m
- 13. Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes44m
- 14. Genetic Control of Development44m
- 15. Genomes and Genomics1h 50m
- 16. Transposable Elements47m
- 17. Mutation, Repair, and Recombination1h 6m
- 18. Molecular Genetic Tools19m
- 19. Cancer Genetics29m
- 20. Quantitative Genetics1h 26m
- 21. Population Genetics50m
- 22. Evolutionary Genetics29m
17. Mutation, Repair, and Recombination
Spontaneous Mutations
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Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first videoMultiple Choice
Which of the following results in a spontaneous mutation?
A
Treatment with ethidium bromide
B
Insertion of transgenes by genetic engineering
C
Exposure to ultraviolet radiation
D
Tautomeric shifts in DNA bases

1
Understand what a spontaneous mutation is: it is a mutation that occurs naturally without any external influence or mutagenic treatment.
Review the options given and classify them as either induced mutations or spontaneous mutations. For example, treatment with ethidium bromide and exposure to ultraviolet radiation are examples of induced mutations because they involve external agents causing DNA changes.
Recognize that insertion of transgenes by genetic engineering is a deliberate, artificial process and thus also an induced mutation.
Learn that tautomeric shifts in DNA bases are natural, temporary changes in the chemical structure of the bases that can lead to mispairing during DNA replication, causing spontaneous mutations.
Conclude that among the options, tautomeric shifts represent the mechanism that results in spontaneous mutations, as they occur naturally without external mutagens.
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