Join with a free account for more service, or become a member for full access to exclusives and extra support of WorldSupporter >>
What is a deletion?
A deletion in DNA replication is a mutation that occurs during DNA copying, where a segment of the original DNA sequence is lost from the newly synthesized strand. It's like accidentally skipping some words while copying a text, but with potentially significant consequences for the organism.
What are the main features of deletion?
- Mechanism: Deletions can arise due to errors during DNA replication, slippage of DNA polymerase (the enzyme copying DNA), or the action of transposable elements (jumping genes) that excise themselves from one location and reinsert elsewhere, taking a piece of the original DNA with them.
- Size: Deletions can range from a single nucleotide to entire genes or even large chromosomal segments.
- Consequences: The impact of deletions depends heavily on the size and location of the missing DNA. Small deletions might have minimal effects, while larger deletions can disrupt genes, alter protein function, and potentially lead to severe genetic diseases.
Why is deletion important?
- Understanding deletions is crucial for studying how mutations arise and contribute to genetic variation.
- Some deletions can be beneficial, creating new genetic diversity or removing regulatory elements that might have been repressing gene expression.
- However, deletions are more commonly detrimental, causing various genetic disorders by disrupting genes or regulatory regions.
What are applications of deletion in practice?
- Genetic Testing: Analyzing DNA sequences for deletions helps diagnose genetic diseases caused by such mutations.
- Cancer Research: Studying deletions in cancer genomes can reveal tumor suppressor genes that have been inactivated and identify potential therapeutic targets.
- Evolutionary Studies: Analyzing deletion patterns in different species can provide insights into genome evolution and adaptation.
Practical example
- DiGeorge syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by a deletion on chromosome 22. This deletion removes several genes, including some crucial for heart development. This can lead to various congenital heart defects, characteristic features of the syndrome.
Critical comments
- Detecting deletions in DNA sequences can be challenging, especially for small deletions.
- The long-term effects of deletions, particularly larger ones, are not always fully understood.
- Ethical concerns exist regarding the potential consequences of using gene editing techniques that could inadvertently cause deletions.
Access:
Public
Click & Go to more related summaries or chapters:
Genomics: The best concepts summarized
Genomics: The best concepts summarized
A short introduction to the best concepts of genomics: From chromatides to transcriptomics
Summaries and supporting content:
Access:
Public
Study Guide with flashcards and definitions with Genomics at Utrecht University
Flashcards and definitions with Genomics
Online flashcards with Genomics
- Centromere
- Chromatides
- Chromosomes
- Sex chromosomes
- Asexual reproduction
- Sexual reproduction
- Mitosis
- Meiosis
- Genomics
- Transcriptomics
- Proteomics
- Metabolomics
- Plasmid
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Next Generation Sequencing
- Sanger sequencing
- RNA-sequencing
- CRISPR-Cas9
- Forward genetic screens
- Reverse genetic screens
- RNA interference
- Bioinformatics
- DNA replication
- DNA mutation
- Evolution
- Horizontal gene transfer (HGT)
- Virus
- Microsatellites
- Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST)
- Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable data (FAIR data)
- Phylogenetic tree
- Insertion
- Deletion
- For flashcards and definitions, see the supporting content of this study guide
Summaries and supporting content:
Access:
Public
This content refers to .....
Summaries and Study Assistance - Start
Summaries and Study Assistance - Start
Summaries, study notes, tips and tools for study and know how
For optimal and free use of summaries, study help, exam tickets, practice exams, bullet points notes
- join JoHo WorldSupporter
- then check the study and exam tips;
- study the material through the summaries;
- repeat the material through the bullets or notes
- master the material through the practice exams.
Work for WorldSupporter
JoHo can really use your help! Check out the various student jobs here that match your studies, improve your competencies, strengthen your CV and contribute to a more tolerant world
Check how to use summaries on WorldSupporter.org
Online access to all summaries, study notes en practice exams
- Check out: Register with JoHo WorldSupporter: starting page (EN)
- Check out: Aanmelden bij JoHo WorldSupporter - startpagina (NL)
How and why would you use WorldSupporter.org for your summaries and study assistance?
- For free use of many of the summaries and study aids provided or collected by your fellow students.
- For free use of many of the lecture and study group notes, exam questions and practice questions.
- For use of all exclusive summaries and study assistance for those who are member with JoHo WorldSupporter with online access
- For compiling your own materials and contributions with relevant study help
- For sharing and finding relevant and interesting summaries, documents, notes, blogs, tips, videos, discussions, activities, recipes, side jobs and more.
Using and finding summaries, study notes en practice exams on JoHo WorldSupporter
There are several ways to navigate the large amount of summaries, study notes en practice exams on JoHo WorldSupporter.
- Use the menu above every page to go to one of the main starting pages
- Starting pages: for some fields of study and some university curricula editors have created (start) magazines where customised selections of summaries are put together to smoothen navigation. When you have found a magazine of your likings, add that page to your favorites so you can easily go to that starting point directly from your profile during future visits. Below you will find some start magazines per field of study
- Use the topics and taxonomy terms
- The topics and taxonomy of the study and working fields gives you insight in the amount of summaries that are tagged by authors on specific subjects. This type of navigation can help find summaries that you could have missed when just using the search tools. Tags are organised per field of study and per study institution. Note: not all content is tagged thoroughly, so when this approach doesn't give the results you were looking for, please check the search tool as back up
- Check or follow your (study) organizations:
- by checking or using your study organizations you are likely to discover all relevant study materials.
- this option is only available trough partner organizations
- Check or follow authors or other WorldSupporters
- by following individual users, authors you are likely to discover more relevant study materials.
- Use the Search tools
- 'Quick & Easy'- not very elegant but the fastest way to find a specific summary of a book or study assistance with a specific course or subject.
- The search tool is also available at the bottom of most pages
Do you want to share your summaries with JoHo WorldSupporter and its visitors?
- Check out: Why and how to add a WorldSupporter contributions
- JoHo members: JoHo WorldSupporter members can share content directly and have access to all content: Join JoHo and become a JoHo member
- Non-members: When you are not a member you do not have full access, but if you want to share your own content with others you can fill out the contact form
Quicklinks to fields of study for summaries and study assistance
Field of study
- All studies for summaries, study assistance and working fields
- Communication & Media sciences
- Corporate & Organizational Sciences
- Cultural Studies & Humanities
- Economy & Economical sciences
- Education & Pedagogic Sciences
- Health & Medical Sciences
- IT & Exact sciences
- Law & Justice
- Nature & Environmental Sciences
- Psychology & Behavioral Sciences
- Public Administration & Social Sciences
- Science & Research
- Technical Sciences
Check the related and most recent topics and summaries:
Activity abroad, study field of working area:
Add new contribution