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Chapter 4: Mutation and Genetic Variation Destinations

Explore key concepts and research through these links to additional web resources.

4.1 Where New Alleles Come From

• DNA Workshop
  PBS's interactive DNA workshop allows you to review the structure of DNA and provides links to resources about DNA structure and function, as well as the individuals involved in discovering its structure.
  Keywords: DNA, PBS, structure

• Watson and Crick
  This PBS article tells the dynamic and intriguing story of the discovery of the double-helical structure of DNA. It was the understanding of DNA structure that lead to an explosion in the study of genetics and molecular biology.
  Keywords: DNA, double helix, Watson, Crick

4.2 Where New Genes Come From

• Gene Duplication
  This report form Science Daily presents the findings about how a gene encoding a pancreatic enzyme might have evolved to help monkeys cope with an unusual diet. This research was conduction by scientists at the University of Michigan, the National Institutes of Health, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences and was published in Nature Genetics in March of 2003.
  Keywords: evolution, gene duplication, adaptation

• Genes and Mutations
  This is a site sponsored by Philip McClean of North Dakota State University and describes the many types of mutations that can occur and how they can affect gene function. You might also follow the links to Genetic Complementation Testing to learn how you can distinguish whether one or more genes are responsible for a given phenotype.
  Keywords: mutations, gene function, phenotype

4.3 Chromosome Alterations

• Human Chromosomes
  This website sponsored by the National Health Museum has a great illustration of 23 paired human chromosome. Follow the link Genes to see how chromosomes organized.
  Keywords: chromosomes, genes, National Health Museum

• Chromosomes and Genetic Mapping
  Identifying the location of all the human genes is one of the greatest scientific pursuits of our lifetime. At this website, supported by the Woodrow Wilson Biology Institute you can learn how individual chromosome are mapped.
  Keywords: chromosomes, mapping, genes, human genome project

4.4 Measuring Genetic Variation in Natural Populations

• The Sickle Cell Information Center
  The Sickle Cell Information Center is sponsored by The Georgia Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center at Grady Health System, Atlanta, Georgia; Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics; The Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia Inc.; Morehouse School of Medicine; and The Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University School of Medicine. Its mission is "to provide sickle cell patient and professional education, news, research updates and world wide sickle cell resources."
  Keywords: sickle cell disease, genes, heredity

• Population Genetics
  Dr. Paul Sniegowski is an Assistant Professor of Biology at University of Pennsylvania who uses evolutionary and population genetic theory as a way to understand the evolutionary significance of mutation rates. Here you can read about is research with the bacterium Escherichia coli.
  Keywords: population genetics, research, Dr. Sniegowski